Second Annual Belgian Energy Transition Workshop: Shaping the Future Grid: Challenges in Control, Security, and Acceptance

The power system is evolving, driven by the urgent need to decarbonize our society and combat climate change. As we move toward a more sustainable and electrified future, new technical, societal, and strategic challenges emerge.

A greater share of electricity in our energy mix requires a significant expansion of the grid—an effort that cannot succeed without public support. Increasing infrastructure acceptance is therefore essential to move projects forward and align the energy transition with societal needs.

At the same time, the grid is facing mounting physical and operational stresses, largely due to the variability of renewable energy sources. Planners and operators have to prioritize resilience and grid security, ensuring the system can adapt to climate extremes, geopolitical uncertainty, and rapidly evolving demand and generation patterns.

Together, these challenges reflect the complexity and urgency of the moment. To address them, EnergyVille, with the support of the Flemish government, has established Etch, the Energy Transmission Competence Hub.

The grid of the future must not only be clean and efficient. It must also be accepted, resilient, secure, and fundamentally reimagined.

Programme

• 9h00 – 9h30 Welcome and registration​
• 9h30 What is Etch?​
• 9h45 Keynote 1: Resilience​
• 10h15 Coffee​
• 10h30 Parallel sessions:
  • Increasing infrastructure acceptance  
  • Planning a resilient grid  
• 12h15 Lunch and poster sessions​
• 14h15 Keynote 2: Control of future power systems​
• 14h45 Parallel sessions:
  • To grid form or not to grid form?  
  • Technology for grid security  
• 15h45 Coffee​
• 16h00 Parallel sessions: discussion​
• 16h45 Closing session: moderators summary of the parallel sessions ​
• 17h00 Reception

Practical information

Date: 16 September

Time: 9 AM-5 PM CET

Location: Thor Central, Genk