Energy Conference in Riga on 15 September

Nordic Energy Research and the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Offices in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania invite you to the 2026 Nordic-Baltic Energy Conference, taking place in Riga, Latvia on 15 September.

This year’s conference will focus on energy security and security of supply in the Nordic-Baltic region. In today’s changing geopolitical landscape, these issues have become increasingly important at both the national and regional cooperation levels. The Nordic and Baltic countries share a common ambition to build a reliable and sustainable energy system. Achieving this goal requires closer cooperation between governments, businesses and civil society.

The conference will serve as a platform for policymakers, private sector representatives and NGOs from across the Nordic and Baltic countries to exchange experiences and discuss the future of regional cooperation in the energy sector. The programme will explore key questions shaping the future of regional energy cooperation, including:

1. How can the Nordic and Baltic countries strengthen security of energy supply?

2. What forms of cooperation are needed to enhance resilience and support the green transition?

REGISTRATION for free is open until 9 September 2026, 17:00 EET: https://ej.uz/hat53

Date: 15 September 2026

Location: "Kokaru Hall", Lūcijas Garūtas Alley 8, Mežaparks, Riga, Latvia

Language: English

PROGRAMME

09:00	Registration
09:30–10:30	Nordic-Baltic roadmap on energy security The session presents the Nordic Policy Roadmap on Energy Security, followed by a discussion on regional cooperation priorities, alignment of national policies, and next steps to strengthen energy security and security of supply in the Nordic-Baltic region. Speakers will also outline their long‑term vision for the region’s energy security. Speakers: Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Antti Viktor Rauhala, Chief Operating Officer, Economic Security Forum Līga Rozentāle, Deputy State Secretary for Energy Policy at the Ministry of Climate and Energy in Latvia Gert Siniloo, Director General for Climate Diplomacy and Connectivity at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Estonia Moderator: Ragnhild Leganger, Adviser, Nordic Energy Research
10:30–11:00	Coffee and networking
11:00–12:00	Preparedness in Local Energy Systems How can local energy systems be better prepared to maintain critical energy supply during a crisis? Experiences from Ukraine have demonstrated the importance of energy systems that can continue to operate even under extreme pressure. This session explores what the Nordic and Baltic countries can learn from these experiences and how local governments, grid operators and energy companies can strengthen preparedness and security of supply. Through practical examples, the speakers will explore the role of decentralised renewable energy, battery storage and local contingency planning in building more resilient energy systems – from assessing risks and preparing for blackouts to maintaining critical energy supply when disruptions occur. Speakers: Daiva Matonienė, Energy Attaché to Ukraine, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania Artūras Kuliešas, Infrastructure Resilience Program Manager, Litgrid Artūrs Toms Plešs, Managing director Eurowind Energy A/S Moderator: Jon Behrendt Ibsø, Group Senior Market Director, Renewable Energy at COWI
12:00–13:00	Networking lunch
13:30–14:30	Completing the Nordic Connection With the Nordic–Baltic grid connected for 1.5 years, this session reflects on key experiences and looks ahead to future security of supply, system operation, and strengthened regional cooperation. It also explores the role of offshore energy hubs and energy islands, including potential links to the Baltic states and integration into the wider Nordic–Baltic power system. Speakers: Kristin Lucie Munthe, Board member of ENTSO-E Moritz Wienhold, Manager European Offshore Development, 50Hertz Casper Hvilsted, Senior Lead Regulatory Advisor for Energy Markets, Ørsted Thor Magnus Rovik, CEO Northern Europe Energy Group Martin Strandgaard, Director, Global Stakeholder Relations, NKT
14:30–15:00	Coffee and networking
15:00–16:00	Emerging voices on regional energy resilience Early‑career professionals present policy briefs selected through a joint call by Nordic Energy Research and the Nordic Council of Ministers’ offices in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The session focuses on fresh perspectives on energy security and security of supply in the Nordic–Baltic region, with senior officials offering feedback on the presented ideas. Following the pitches, conference participants will have the opportunity to challenge the ideas, ask questions and contribute their own perspectives to the discussion. Early-career Speakers: Veronika Slakaityte, MSCA PhD Fellow, Chalmers University of Technology Xavier Weiss, Researcher, RISE Research institutes of Sweden Nutan Gupta, Graduate Research Student, University of Inland Norway Moderator: Olga Bogdanova, Vice-Rector of the University of Latvia