29.08.2025
The energy transition in Europe has reached a point of no return. The issue of energy system stability has transformed from a technical challenge for engineers into a strategic priority for governments and top managers of the largest companies. On the eve of the international forum «Balancing Europe’s Energy System», which will take place on October 9 in Vienna, the Energy Club media department spoke with the Club’s president, Andrii Kostrytsia.
— Andrii, the topic of balancing the energy system is on everyone’s lips today. Why do you think this problem has become so acute now?
— Because theoretical models and reality have begun to diverge. We have been talking for years about a future in which there will be a lot of renewable energy, and now it has arrived. And it turned out that the existing system is working at the limit of its capabilities. Look at the recent events in Spain, where the power system was barely able to cope with peak loads. These are no longer forecasts, but operational reality. Add to this new, previously unforeseen factors. On the one hand, there is the boom in the development of artificial intelligence, which requires the construction of giant, extremely energy-intensive data centers. On the other, there is the war in Ukraine, which has demonstrated how fragile a centralized energy infrastructure can be. It has become obvious that the old approaches no longer work.
— You are gathering a very representative audience in Vienna. What key problem should the forum solve for them?
— The main problem today is the gap between three worlds: the world of political goals, more RES, decarbonization, the world of power system physics (stable frequency, inertia) and the world of the market economy, price signals, investments. Politicians want “green” energy, engineers talk about risks to the grid, and business asks: “Who will pay for all this and what is the business model?”. Our forum is designed to connect these three worlds. The key problem that we will solve is how to create economically viable mechanisms to ensure system flexibility. We will not just talk about megawatts, but about investments, contracts and market rules that will make sustainability profitable.
— Tell us about the speakers. What logic did you put into creating the program?
— We are building the program according to the ecosystem principle to present a view from each key side. Today we already have confirmation from three speakers. The technologies will be presented by Viktor Kamyshev, Director of Strategy and Development at GE Vernova. This is the view of one of the world giants that creates the same tools — from BESS to digital platforms — that allow you to manage the new energy reality. The interests of renewable energy producers will be presented by Oyvind Vessia, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Ørsted. This is a company that practically integrates huge volumes of wind generation into the grid and best understands what market and regulatory conditions are needed for this. And, finally, the market architecture will be presented by Rafael Gomez-Elvira, Chairman of the EU NEMO Committee and Director of OMI Group. This is the body that coordinates all energy exchanges in Europe. This is the person whose decisions determine how the single European market will function. We are currently finalizing negotiations with representatives of European TSOs and regulators to add to this picture the view of those who are responsible for the physical stability of the grids every day.
— What is the unique role of the Ukrainian experience in this European conversation?
— Our experience is not about repairs after attacks. It is about a fundamental shift in thinking: decentralization as the basis of survival, operational flexibility as a daily necessity, system management under extreme stress. We bring a level of pragmatism to the European dialogue that is sometimes lacking. We can talk not about how it could be, but about how it actually is, when theoretical risks become reality. And we see a huge interest in this “battle-tested” knowledge.
— Energy Club is planning several online meetings the day before, in particular with the former head of Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytsky. What role do they play in the preparation for Vienna?
— Andriy Kostrytsia: These online meetings are not separate events, but preparatory stages for our forum. They allow us to delve deeply into individual aspects. For example, the conversation with Mr. Kudrytsky gave us a unique Ukrainian context of sustainability, which we are now bringing to the pan-European discussion. These events “heat up” key topics and formulate the right questions. The forum will be the culmination, where all these directions — Ukrainian experience, European market architecture, technological innovations — will converge at one point.
— What specifically will the participant take away from the day spent in Vienna?
— We want each participant to leave not just with new contacts, but with concrete answers and an advantage for their business. In short, it is:
This will be a day dedicated to finding concrete solutions.
I invite everyone involved in the sector to join this important conversation.
Program details and registration are on the official forum website: https://balancing.iclub.energy
