From Renewable Sources to Nuclear Energy: New Directions in the Region’s Energy Transition

Brief introduction to the panel topic

The energy transition is no longer unfolding in a stable and predictable world. Geopolitical tensions, volatile energy markets, rising demand for electricity, and the urgent need for decarbonization are forcing countries across the region to rethink not only how they produce energy, but how they secure their economic and strategic future. This panel will raise the question of whether current regional policies are ambitious, aligned, and realistic enough to respond to these pressures. At the center of the discussion will be new sources and storage systems, as well as nuclear energy — once almost politically unacceptable in parts of the region, now being reconsidered as a serious option in the search for reliable, low-carbon energy sources and greater energy security. Bringing together representatives of public institutions, industry, and the academic community, the panel will examine whether the region is ready to move beyond short-term challenges and make the long-term decisions that will shape its energy future.