Good practices
Good practices

Side event

BETD 2025 Rethinking energy security

Side event

Topic

Energy System Optimisation

Dimension

Grids & Energy Systems
Calendar 20 March 2025
Location BMWK, Berlin

Within the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD), RGI and REN21 brought the topic of energy security to a new light: planning an integrated energy system with demand-driven aspects in mind. Read more about the event below.

Today’s energy systems are planned with a generation mindset. Energy demand, transmission, distribution, flexibility and energy efficiency are often considered as added elements and not fully embedded in the planning processes.  This fragmentation leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for a fast and cost-effective energy transition.

In contraposition, renewable energy provides an incredible opportunity for increasing energy security and guaranteeing resilience to global volatility. When coupled with electrification, flexibility and efficiency measures, renewables can reduce costs and overall primary energy demand.

Therefore, a demand-driven energy system can contribute to optimising energy generation and location of assets, minimising waste, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, while ensuring cost-efficient infrastructure and consumer benefits.

Ultimately, it can lead to a more resilient and secure energy system. However, transitioning to such a system raises critical questions:

01

Who are the key stakeholders championing or resisting this change?

02

What are the enabling conditions?

03

What are the main barriers and drivers?

04

How should policies be designed to facilitate this shift within the current political environment?

05

What knowledge gaps must we address?

This session aimed at addressing these questions and raising awareness for a needed paradigm shift from generation-driven to demand-driven energy services, highlighting opportunities, challenges and pathways for change.

Photos

Rethinking energy security: Shifting to a 24/7 demand-driven energy system

All photos from the event

Access Flick

contact

Mara Zainea

Manager – Communication

Mara Zainea

Manager – Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11031
Mara joined the Renewables Grid Initiative in 2021. Her main responsibilities at RGI encompass communications and media work as well as event management. She previously worked as a training coordinator at the Center for International Peace Operations in Berlin and at the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) within the European University Institute. At the FSR she was also responsible for donor relations and policy events. Mara studied in Sibiu (Romania), Salzburg (Austria) and Berlin (Germany) and holds degrees in German and English Philology (BA) and Arts and Media Administration (MA).

Charlotte Mueller

Manager – Communication

Charlotte Mueller

Manager – Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11026
Charlotte joined RGI in April 2022 as a Junior Manager with the communications team. Prior to joining RGI, Charlotte completed internships with the GIZ and Canadian agricultural ministry working on topics including energy, agriculture and water security, trade policy and climate communication. Charlotte studied History and Economics at Carleton University in Canada and she holds a Master’s degree in Politics and Public Administration from the University of Konstanz in Germany.

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11035
Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Currently, she works as Manager – Communication & Energy Systems. She is responsible for communication-related tasks, while also co-leading different activities within the Grids & Energy Systems Dimension in RGI. Her main work topics are circularity and stakeholder engagement, as well as permitting and acceleration of renewables and grid infrastructure. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC). Nathália studied at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

Mara Zainea

Manager – Communication

Mara Zainea

Manager – Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11031
Mara joined the Renewables Grid Initiative in 2021. Her main responsibilities at RGI encompass communications and media work as well as event management. She previously worked as a training coordinator at the Center for International Peace Operations in Berlin and at the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) within the European University Institute. At the FSR she was also responsible for donor relations and policy events. Mara studied in Sibiu (Romania), Salzburg (Austria) and Berlin (Germany) and holds degrees in German and English Philology (BA) and Arts and Media Administration (MA).

Charlotte Mueller

Manager – Communication

Charlotte Mueller

Manager – Communication

t: +49 30 2332 11026
Charlotte joined RGI in April 2022 as a Junior Manager with the communications team. Prior to joining RGI, Charlotte completed internships with the GIZ and Canadian agricultural ministry working on topics including energy, agriculture and water security, trade policy and climate communication. Charlotte studied History and Economics at Carleton University in Canada and she holds a Master’s degree in Politics and Public Administration from the University of Konstanz in Germany.

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11035
Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Currently, she works as Manager – Communication & Energy Systems. She is responsible for communication-related tasks, while also co-leading different activities within the Grids & Energy Systems Dimension in RGI. Her main work topics are circularity and stakeholder engagement, as well as permitting and acceleration of renewables and grid infrastructure. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC). Nathália studied at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.