The Energy Security Centre of Excellence serves as a critical resource for NATO, providing strategic insights into the complexities of energy security and its implications for Alliance operations. Situated in Vilnius, Lithuania, this Centre is dedicated to fostering collaboration among Allied and Partner nations to ensure a stable and secure energy future.
The Centre plays a pivotal role in supporting NATO’s mission by offering comprehensive expertise across the spectrum of energy security. Its core functions encompass enhancing awareness of energy-related security challenges, driving energy efficiency within NATO forces, and showcasing innovative energy solutions. These efforts contribute to the Alliance’s overall goals of integration, readiness, and resilience.
Exercise Coherent Resilience 2024 Moldova
One of the key events organized by the Energy Security Centre of Excellence this year was the Tabletop Exercise Coherent Resilience 2024 held in Moldova in March. This exercise focused on strengthening the collaboration between Moldovan energy operators and cyber defenders to prepare for and respond to non-conventional security threats. The exercise saw the participation of over 100 representatives from 10 nations and 32 institutions, including ministries, government agencies, and private sector entities. Notably, the exercise featured support from the European Union Joint Research Centre, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, the NATO Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence, the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
International Conference FORTE 2024
Looking ahead, the Energy Security Centre of Excellence continues to expand its scope of activities. In October 2024, the Centre will hold an international conference titled “Future Operations – Resilience in Transitioning Energy (FORTE) 2024” in Vilnius, Lithuania. The event will cover a wide range of topics in energy security, such as the potential of various clean energy sources for NATO’s operational needs, the challenges and opportunities of transitioning military operations towards an increasing share of more sustainable energy, and the latest lessons learned in the field of Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection.
Over the past decade, the focus on creating clean, stable and resilient energy production and sources has been an emphasis of the Alliance and Allied Command Transformation. To achieve a sustainable future energy strategy for Alliance forces, the Centre has conducted wide-ranging research that will culminate in the development of the NATO Operational Energy Concept. Additionally, the Centre will pursue research topics throughout 2023 that will include a study on the challenges and risks of offshore wind farms for energy and military security, developments for military mobility until 2050 using synthetic and carbon free fuels and a study of the consequences of climate change on Allied and Partner nations. Together, these topics inform key authorities within the Alliance’s ecosystem and guide future decision making with an emphasis on militarily viable clean and stable energy solutions.
