Risk Landscape and Security in the Energy Sector
Robustness in an increasingly complex energy system
How do we strengthen the robustness of an integrated energy system when the threat landscape is becoming more complex across technologies, actors, and types of risk?
This was the central question when Energy Valley and DNV brought together authorities, industry, technology suppliers, and research communities for a security seminar at Høvik on 10 February.
The seminar took a distinctly national perspective, focusing on Norwegian frameworks, responsibilities, and practices, while also acknowledging the international links to technology development, supply chains, and security policy as an essential part of the backdrop.
A more complex risk landscape
A recurring insight throughout the day was that the risk picture in the energy system has become both more complex and more dynamic. Events that were previously considered extraordinary – whether digital, physical, or climate‑related – now appear to be part of a new normal.
Vulnerabilities increasingly arise:
- at the interfaces between systems
- in the dependencies between actors
- and in the connection between physical and digital infrastructure
This places new demands on prevention, preparedness, and the ability to handle the unexpected.
The power system as a critical part of the energy system
Several presentations highlighted the power system as a critical component of the broader energy system, characterized by a high degree of digitalization and interconnection.
DNV’s presentations illustrated how:
- physical incidents, climate extremes, and technical failures…
- as well as digital vulnerabilities in components, control systems, and supply chains…
…can create system‑wide effects far beyond the power grid itself, thereby impacting society as a whole.
A key point was that robustness cannot be reduced to isolated technical measures. It must be understood as an interplay between:
- technology and system design
- organization and governance
- competence and security culture
From analysis to practice
Perspectives from the energy industry emphasized that substantial work is already being done today within risk management, preparedness, and the protection of critical assets.
At the same time, it became clear that:
- new value chains and energy solutions challenge established ways of working
- hybrid threats blur the line between ICT security and physical security
- collaboration across companies and sectors is becoming increasingly important
Robustness is therefore not only about managing known risks, but also about the ability to learn, adapt, and collaborate.
Collaboration and priorities going forward
The panel discussion tied the day’s themes together and highlighted the need for:
- clearer understanding of roles and responsibilities
- better mechanisms for sharing information and experience
- more joint exercises and cross‑actor collaboration
There are no simple answers to how we strengthen the robustness of the energy system. But one conclusion stood out clearly:
This is not something that any single actor, sector, or technology can solve alone.
The road ahead
The seminar demonstrated the value of bringing diverse perspectives together around a shared understanding of risk and to discuss security and robustness as a system‑level responsibility, not as isolated issues.
The dialogue continued even after the formal program ended, through networking and conversations across disciplines; exactly as the event was intended to function.
Energy Valley and DNV thank all speakers, panellists, and participants for their openness and engagement, and we look forward to continuing the discussions!
A note from EU Advisor Knut Linnerud
If you are interested in taking this dialogue further – particularly at the intersection of AI, energy systems and security – we invite you to connect with us.
Energy Valley is currently advancing the next strategic phase of the AI Energy Cluster, where safety, resilience, and responsible implementation of AI in energy systems are central pillars. The initiative brings together industry, technology providers, research environments, and public stakeholders to strengthen practical deployment of AI in a secure and sustainable way.
We welcome companies and organizations that want to engage more closely in this work – whether through existing initiatives, pilot projects, or new collaborative ideas.
As EU Advisor at Energy Valley, I am also happy to support stakeholders in:
- Mapping relevant European and national funding opportunities
- Positioning existing initiatives within upcoming EU programmes
- Developing new project concepts linked to AI, energy and security
- Connecting with relevant partners across sectors and countries
If you see opportunities for collaboration, funding or strategic alignment, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The complexity of tomorrow’s energy system requires coordinated action – and we believe collaboration is the most powerful accelerator.
Knut Linnerud
Email Knut to get involved
