Energy security is a critical prerequisite for modern economies and societies to prosper and develop. Despite very limited own energy resources, Luxembourg has managed to supply itself securely with oil, gas and electricity for decades. However, energy security has been shaken up over the last couple of years by profound geopolitical changes and uncertainties, such as Russia’s invasion in the Ukraine. Furthermore, the energy transition is often perceived as an element of disorder and a risk to energy security. In stark contrast to this perception, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that the transition is in fact a prerequisite for ensuring energy security. This is particularly true for countries that are highly dependent on energy imports, such as Luxembourg. Nevertheless, to turn the transition into a real opportunity, a holistic approach is needed addressing far-reaching technical, economic and societal questions.

The conference will shed light on energy security in a Luxembourgish context, discussing dependencies and trade-offs as well as risks and opportunities arising from the energy transition and geopolitical uncertainties on a regional, European and global level.

Simeon Hagspiel has been Luxembourg’s Government Commissioner for Energy since 2020. Prior to this, he worked in Brussels for the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) where he was responsible for establishing the economic studies team. He studied engineering with a specialization in energy technology at ETH Zurich, as well as in Paris and Chicago, and earned his doctorate at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne in the field of economics and regulatory design of power systems.

In collaboration with the Institut Grand-Ducal, Section Sciences morales et politiques.