New report highlights vulnerabilities in Nordic energy security
The report “Energy Security in the Nordics” presents 25 recommendations on how the Nordics can jointly develop a more robust approach to energy security. Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, stresses that although the Nordic Region is well placed to address these challenges, further action is required.
The Nordic Region already has strong energy systems and extensive experience of co-operation built on trust. We now need to take the next step in strengthening our shared energy security. Deeper energy co-operation will invigorate both our resilience and the green transition.
Need for greater security and better co-ordination
In particular, the analysis highlights the need to protect critical energy infrastructure and secure access to key components within the energy system. Among its recommendations, the report suggests that the Nordic countries should:
- develop a common strategic approach to energy security
- improve co-ordination regarding the connection of major new electricity consumers, and
- strengthen preparedness through increased stockpiling of critical components.
The Nordic countries have spent decades building strong institutions and extensive cross-border co-operation. The challenge now is that emerging threats require collaboration that’s not only political and strategic, but also operational.
Sharp increase in demand for electricity
Nordic electricity consumption is expected to rise significantly in the coming years as the industrial sector undergoes transformation and new energy-intensive businesses are established. The continued expansion of renewable and fossil-free energy production has been identified as crucial to the region’s long-term resilience.
The report was commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers and its institution, Nordic Energy Research, which funds pan-Nordic energy research and energy co-operation.
The Nordic countries are highly interconnected and dependent on each other’s energy systems. That’s why we also need to become better at managing threats and crises together.
