Europe’s energy security Cyber and physical resilience.
In this session, experts discuss the latest threats to Europe’s power energy system security, from wartime sabotage and hacking to the climate crisis. They also explore new technologies, best practices, and EU regulations to protect European power systems from cyber-attacks.
The power grid is one of Europe’s most important and critical infrastructure systems. It supplies electricity to millions of homes, businesses, and public institutions. But it is also one of the most vulnerable systems. Over the years, Europe has faced a variety of threats to its power system both from natural disasters and malicious actors.
In recent years, the threat of cyberattacks has become more prominent. Cyberattacks can cause significant damage to power grids, as Europe saw in the 2015 attack on Ukraine’s power grid. In that attack, hackers used malware to shut down power to more than 225,000 people for several hours.
Another threat to Europe’s power system is sabotage. During World War II, German saboteurs attacked power and communications networks in an effort to disrupt Allied operations. In modern times, malicious actors could use sabotage to cause widespread power outages.
The threat of electromagnetic pulses (EMP) is also a concern for Europe’s power grid. EMPs occur when a high-energy blast of radiation is released, usually from a nuclear explosion. The blast can disrupt electronic systems, including power grids.
Finally, there is the threat of natural disasters and extreme weather. Europe has seen its share of storms, floods, and other events that can disrupt power networks. For example, in 2013, a major storm knocked out power to millions of people in Europe.
To protect against these threats, governments and power companies must work together to ensure that power grids are secure and resilient. This includes investing in cyber security measures, backup power supplies, and other measures to reduce the risk of power outages.
In sum, there are a variety of threats to Europe’s power systems, from wartime sabotage and hacking to natural disasters and extreme weather. To ensure the safety and reliability of Europe’s power grid, governments and power companies must invest in security measures to reduce the risk of outages.