Energy supply as a critical element of the security architecture
According to Stamatelopoulos, sufficient reliable generation capacity, flexible power stations, storage facilities and an efficient grid remain indispensable. However, the resilience of the energy system must be considered more broadly: what happens in the event of cyber-attacks, sabotage, physical attacks or simultaneous crises?
The Bundeswehr’s participation in this year’s vbge Congress was therefore particularly impressive. With Prof. Dr Rafaela Kraus from the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich, Colonel (ret.) Armin Schaus from the Bundeswehr Operational Command and other experts, the perspective of security and defence architecture was brought directly into the energy sector’s discussion. This made it clear that energy infrastructure has long been a matter of security policy.
The keynote speech by Prof. Dr Rafaela Kraus, entitled ‘Rethinking resilience: How the threat landscape has changed and what matters now for the energy industry’, provided a particular highlight. Together with representatives from the Bundeswehr, the energy sector and the vgbe, she subsequently took part in a panel discussion on how the threat landscape has changed and what consequences this has for companies. The presence of the Bundeswehr was more than just a symbolic part of the programme. It highlighted the fact that energy supply and national security are increasingly intertwined. Operators of critical infrastructure must now grapple with scenarios that were previously more commonly found in security policy war games than in the day-to-day operations of energy companies. At the same time, it became clear that the state and the private sector can only tackle this challenge together. Companies possess the technical expertise, the facilities and the capacity to restore systems. However, in the event of organised attacks, terrorism, hybrid threats or targeted attacks from abroad, the security authorities and state structures are equally essential.
A threat that has now become very real
These current events add a further dimension to the discussions at the vgbe Congress: the question of how an energy system responds to an attack is no longer a theoretical exercise. Resilience therefore means more than simply being able to compensate for a technical fault. It is about remaining capable of acting even under exceptional circumstances – whether following a cyber-attack, a physical attack on a facility, or a combination of different crises. Electricity grids, power stations, substations, storage facilities and digital control systems are among the critical infrastructures of a modern state. Their failure can not only cause economic damage but also, within a very short space of time, have a significant impact on society, public administration, communications, transport and military capabilities.
The Congress deliberately brought these different perspectives together. With Dr Nina Scheer, Member of the Bundestag and energy policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, Kristian Ruby, Secretary-General of Eurelectric, and Bastian Olzem from the BDEW, political and European perspectives were represented alongside the views of the energy sector. It became clear just how complex the transformation of the energy system has now become. The expansion of renewable energy is progressing, whilst at the same time the demands on flexibility, grids, storage and reliable power supply are increasing. Added to this are new consumers such as data centres and the growing importance of artificial intelligence. The investigation into the Iberian blackout was therefore of particular interest. Klaus Kaschnitz from ENTSO-E and APG presented the final report of the commission of inquiry. The analysis demonstrated once again how important it is not to view events in isolation, but to understand the interdependencies across the entire energy system.
Dialogue between politics, the energy sector and Europe
Under the guiding principle ‘vgbe – powered by its members’, the importance of exchange between member companies was particularly evident in Berlin. Experts from power stations, grids, research and industry contribute their experience, further develop standards and feed knowledge back into the community. For more than 105 years, the organisation has combined technical expertise, practical experience and international cooperation. Today, its membership spans 33 countries. Technically, the Congress accordingly offered a broad and internationally diverse snapshot of the sector. Presentations ranged from hydrogen and CCUS, through battery storage and new forms of thermal generation, to digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
It became particularly clear that transformation and resilience are not mutually exclusive. Rather, the transformation of the energy system must be designed in such a way that security of supply and technical reliability are maintained. This was also evident in the sessions on the second day of the Congress: topics such as OT security, physical protection of energy facilities, battery storage, digital twins, intelligent plant knowledge, hydrogen, CCUS, offshore wind energy and the transformation of existing power station sites were on the agenda. The focus on existing plants was particularly interesting. After all, the energy transition does not consist solely of building new infrastructure. Existing power stations and sites must also be operated safely, retrofitted, decommissioned or prepared for new uses.
Expertise as the cornerstone of resilience: Awards for innovation and safety
Another highlight was the vgbe Awards. In 2026, the Innovation Award was presented for the first time to four winners: Viktor Andersson, Elias Ehlmé, Stephan Elsen-Humberg and Johannes Lips. The awards recognised work on innovative technical solutions in areas including alkali spectrometry, thermal radiation, hydrogen and the operational flexibility of combined heat and power plants.
Another highlight was the vgbe Awards. In 2026, the Innovation Award was presented for the first time to four winners: Viktor Andersson, Elias Ehlmé, Stephan Elsen-Humberg and Johannes Lips. The awards recognised work on innovative technical solutions in areas including alkali spectrometry, thermal radiation, hydrogen and the operational flexibility of combined heat and power plants.
The Safety & Health Award went to EDP Gestão da Produção, S.A. for the ‘PlayitSafe Card Deck’. This bilingual set of cards supports safety discussions in day-to-day working life and demonstrates that a safety culture is not created solely through technical regulations, but through communication and daily vigilance.
Networking, discussion and conclusions
Alongside the presentations, personal interaction was therefore a key component of the Congress. The trade exhibition, accompanied by fine dining, provided a setting for discussions about new technologies and specific projects. The general meeting of vgbe energy e.V. and the subsequent evening programme at the Zollpackhof continued the discussions outside the conference hall. Particularly at a time when energy supply is becoming increasingly complex and, at the same time, increasingly relevant to security, this personal exchange remains indispensable. On the second day of the event, four parallel sessions focused on the vital practical examples of resilience, innovation and transformation at energy sites, viewed directly from the perspective of plant operators such as EVN Austria, LEAG, RWE and EnBW , as well as their project partners, including universities, research institutes and engineering firms. After eight hours comprising a total of 24 presentations, 32 speakers and 5 moderators, all participants gathered to listen to the closing address by Managing Director Dr Oliver Then.
After summarising these two exciting days of the Congress and thanking all the speakers, participants and organisers, he left the audience with a special thought-provoking question regarding personal resilience and the ability to weather crises:
„What could I personally do for improving resiliance for me and my family, not only for my boss and my company?!“
The upcoming vgbe Congress 2027 will take place on 22 and 23 September, once again at the Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt in Berlin!
