Diverse by Design: Building a Resilient European Energy System

The power disruptions that swept across Spain and Portugal last month are now a distant memory. Despite the media headlines that followed wide-scale outages in the Iberian region, the grids of both countries are now back online, and the focus of the international community has since shifted. However, for the world's top energy stakeholders and policymakers, the events of last April remain a topic of great importance—albeit not for the reasons one may think. In fact, while some may view these outages as a sign of vulnerability, there is a growing consensus amongst key decision-makers that Spain and Portugal's experience could represent a turning point—where Europeans finally unite around a common need for energy diversity and resilience.

Over the past five years, the EU has made several attempts to develop a unified energy strategy for the entire bloc, with the aim of securing an affordable and sustainable power supply that can fuel continued growth in an increasingly low-carbon global economy. Chief amongst these efforts is the EU Green Deal, a wide-scale policy initiative approved in 2020 which set the ambitious target of making the European Union the world's first climate-neutral bloc by 2050. Importantly, the Green Deal also includes a binding commitment under the EU Climate Law to ensure that each sector in the economy of each member state contributes to achieving climate neutrality, thus laying out a rigid framework for the transformation of the EU's individual and regional energy systems.

While the Green Deal does represent a determined response to the pressing need for wide-scale decarbonisation, its stringent focus on rapid and drastic changes to existing energy infrastructure and supply sources has actually ignored one of the EU's most significant advantages—energy diversity. At a time when geopolitical dynamics and economic conditions are constantly evolving, the Green Deal has called for member states to adopt a singular approach, thus framing Europe's varied national energy priorities and strategies as a weakness. Instead, leaders should consider them a wellspring of innovation and resilience, as the continent's energy diversity is its greatest asset in building a stable, sustainable, and prosperous future.

Consider France. Following historic disruptions to the global oil supply chain in 1973, French leadership decided to take their country's energy future into their own hands and make a bold commitment to expanding nuclear power. This decision, to follow a unique and non-traditional path to energy security, sustainability, and independence, is now paying dividends. France has the largest share of nuclear electricity in the world, over 70%, all produced domestically, and benefits from a stable baseload of power that can support a balanced energy transformation and sustained economic growth. The EU can learn an important lesson from France: nuclear energy can be a cornerstone for energy security and a platform for further innovation.

Reflecting the continent's diverse energy landscape, Germany has taken a different approach, which first started with a significant bet on green energy to lead the way. Their policy of Energiewende (energy turnaround) saw them turn away from traditional fuels in favour of a renewable-powered energy system, driven by comprehensive new policy initiatives and incentive schemes. While initially successful, this pivot faced undeniable obstacles, including the inevitable intermittency challenges of renewable solutions and the sudden fractionation of important trade routes. In response, the German government has itself embraced the values of energy diversity, making significant investments in natural gas to fill key gaps in the country's power supply and build a resilient resource mix that can adapt to increasing demand and an evolving global landscape.

Italy offers a third perspective. With limited domestic energy resources, the country has quickly prioritized the expansion of LNG capacity and stepped up its efforts to secure its supply. Backed by the ambitious Mattei Plan and subsequent import deals with North African gas producers, the country is currently constructing a number of new LNG terminals—in addition to the three existing ones—to ensure continued access to this stable and affordable resource that fuels key industries and supports future growth. LNG now accounts for over fifty percent of all electric energy consumed in the country, and is central to Italy's larger plans for long-term economic growth and global influence.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Milan will be the host for this year's Gastech, the world's premier gathering for key global stakeholders in the natural gas, LNG, climate technologies, and hydrogen sectors. With the participation of industry-leading CEOs and international ministers, Gastech 2025 will offer a unique opportunity for Italian energy companies to strike new partnerships and secure new investments. Against the backdrop of Italy's mounting energy ambitions and Europe's varied energy landscape, the event will lay the foundation for a resilient and diversified energy mix that leverages every strategic advantage of natural gas and LNG.

The lesson is clear: Europe's strength lies in its diversity. Rather than seeking a one-size-fits-all approach, the EU can draw on the success of its member states—whether it be France's nuclear leadership, Germany's pragmatic approach, or Italy's LNG strategy. These are the basic elements of a resilient, pan-European energy ecosystem. No one approach is without challenges, but this diversity provides a wide variety of tested solutions and blueprints the EU can choose from on the path to long-term security and sustainability.