Electricity does not stop at borders, and neither should our cooperation – that is one of many takeaways of the GCEF conference, which took place on 15 October at the Mánes Gallery in Prague.
Affordable energy, reliable grids, cutting-edge technologies – Europe's industrial competitiveness depends on getting energy right.
We got straight down to business even before the conference began, with two bilateral expert roundtables dedicated to cross-border grid infrastructure and future nuclear technologies – SMRs and nuclear fusion.
The aim was to better understand perspectives on both sides of the border, address common challenges and opportunities, and move things forward. The insights from these discussions also fed into the lively panel debates at the main conference.
In her keynote, Claudia Viohl, CEO and Chairperson of the board from E.ON CZ emphasized that electrification is not a goal in itself, but a means to an end. Building a smarter, more efficient energy system requires stronger cross-border grids, private investment and, above all, the confidence companies need to invest.
A few key takeaways from the discussions:
- Competitive industry needs affordable, reliable energy. Improving energy efficiency and embracing new technologies are just as important as expanding energy supply.
- Investment needs confidence. Rather than setting ever more targets, companies need predictable frameworks, faster permitting procedures and less bureaucracy to turn ambitions into action.
- The future lies in combining our strengths. From smarter interconnected grids to SMRs and nuclear fusion, Czech-German cooperation offers opportunities for innovation, research, industrial expertise and the next generation of talent.
A big thank you to all our speakers, partners, our moderator Michala Hergetová and participants for the inspiring discussions and for moving Czech-German energy cooperation forward!
