Our researcher participates as an expert at the Riksdag

Between 23-24 April the Swedish Parliament Committee on Industry and Trade arranged an EU conference on the theme "Challenges and opportunities for the EU's future energy supply". Valentina Zaccaria, researcher in Energy Engineering at MDU, was one of four selected researchers who participated in a panel discussion on "Sustainable research, development and innovation as a solution to the EU's energy challenges".

During the conference current energy policy issues were discussed, such as securing electricity supply and challenges for energy markets in the shadow of a unsettled world order. The theme of the conference was to address the two urgent objectives that have been set by the EU:

• Ending the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels
• Tackling the climate crisis
  

One of four selected researchers and innovators

Valentina Zaccaria was one of four specifically selected young researchers and innovators who work in various ways with innovations linked to the area of energy. During the panel discussion she provided insights, based on her research expertise, on the measures taken by the EU to accelerate the green transition.

“I talked in particular about how fuel cell technology can contribute to this transition and also the challenges related to hydrogen," says Valentina Zaccaria.

What, then, is the greatest challenge in the EU's future energy supply?

“The recent energy crisis has shown that we have the means to tackle the climate challenge in the EU, but we must join forces to do this,” says Valentina Zaccaria.

Diversification an important aspect

Here, Valentina Zaccaria highlights diversification as an important aspect of the green transition. In brief, diversification is about getting various parts of a complex energy system to work together. Examples of the energy system components are renewable electricity, hydrogen, bioenergy and carbon capture and storage.

Part of the Swedish Presidency of the EU

The conference was part of the Swedish Presidency of the EU. The participants were parliamentarians from EU Member States. The Chair of the Committee on Industry and Trade and Vice Chair hosted the conference.