Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal,

When large parts of Berlin lost power in January, thousands of people were abruptly reminded of a fundamental truth: electricity is not simply another commodity. It is the backbone of modern society. Transport systems stalled. Telecommunications were disrupted. Businesses shut down. Public life paused.

One lesson stands out: in today’s geopolitical environment, electricity systems are strategic assets and potential targets. We have seen the dramatic consequences of this new reality in Ukraine. For nearly three years, power infrastructure has faced systematic and evolving attacks designed not merely to damage assets, but to destabilise society and weaken national defence.

Unlike Ukraine, Europe is not experiencing the threats of wartime. But we’re not in purely peaceful times either. In a new report “Battle-tested power systems”, Eurelectric has investigated how hybrid threats to energy infrastructure are increasing across the EU. Subsea cable disruptions in the Baltic Sea, arson attacks on energy facilities, escalating cyber intrusions and coordinated disinformation campaigns against utilities are no longer isolated anomalies. They are part of a broader pattern of pressure on critical infrastructure.

At the same time, global energy geopolitics are shifting. Energy is increasingly framed as an instrument of power projection and political leverage. We’re abruptly coming back from a 30-year vacation from world History where stable, rules-based interdependence was a given.

For Europe, this reinforces a central conclusion: homegrown electricity – increasingly renewable, diversified and interconnected – is not only a decarbonisation pathway. It is the foundation of long-term energy security. However, as transport, heating, industry and digital infrastructures electrify, it becomes even more important to avoid incidents that would cascade across sectors. Europe needs a step-change in preparedness at three levels.

First, at company level. Utilities must embed security into core strategy and operations. This includes enhanced physical protection of critical assets, systematic crisis exercises, strengthened cybersecurity capabilities, and stockpiling of essential components such as transformers and grid equipment. Smaller operators must also be alert; hybrid actors often exploit weaker links in complex systems. A robust security culture across the entire value chain is essential.

Second, at national level. Regulation must align with the new security reality. Grid operators, for instance, can only invest within regulated frameworks. If we expect them to build redundancy, maintain strategic reserves of equipment, or establish resilient back-up communication systems to enable black-start capabilities after a large outage, regulators must allow and remunerate these investments. Security cannot be treated as an optional add-on.

Third, at EU level. Europe’s overarching energy security strategy dates back to 2014. Since then, the energy mix, the geopolitical environment and the technological architecture of the system have fundamentally changed. While important legislation has been adopted — notably in cybersecurity — we need a comprehensive, electricity-centred review of Europe’s security framework. This must integrate physical threats, cyber risks, supply chain resilience, defence considerations and cross-sector coordination.

Cybersecurity also deserves attention. As grids digitalise and distributed energy resources become more connected, the attack surface expands. Artificial intelligence enhances both defensive tools and malicious capabilities. The same data flows that enable demand response and optimise renewable integration must be secured against intrusion. Balancing digital openness with robust protection will be one of the defining challenges of the coming decade.

The overarching message of “Battle-tested power systems” is clear: electricity has become central to Europe’s security architecture. The lessons from Ukraine show both the scale of the threat and the importance of resilience, agility and coordination. The Berlin blackout shows that even in stable democracies, disruption can occur suddenly and with widespread impact.

Energy security in the age of electricity means preparing not only for market volatility, but for deliberate disruption. It means investing before crisis strikes. And it means recognising that a resilient power system is no longer just an economic necessity. It is a strategic imperative.