DeCrises in the spotlight: A KTU article about Lithuania’s energy sector transformations
The energy transition in Lithuania, as in the other Baltic countries, faces challenges known as the "energy trilemma", as analysed in a recent book, “Energy Trilemma in the Baltic Sea Region - Security, Equity, and the Environment”, edited by M. Kalis. Amid geopolitical instability, these states need to ensure energy security. This means they need to achieve the EU Green Deal's goal of zero emissions by 2050 while also addressing the increased cost of living caused by the energy crisis.
A recent article, published by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), explores this energy trillemma with comments on twin transition as well as on energy resilience and security from researchers with various scientific backgrounds.
Over the past century, Lithuania's energy system has undergone a significant transformation. As revealed by historical data from the KTU Lithuanian Data Archive for the Humanities and Social Sciences (LiDA), Lithuania's energy system, which in the interwar period relied on small local power plants, has transformed into a modern system synchronized with European networks. The country’s energy independence has become a political goal that reflects the country's development and resilience. Today, looking at Lithuania's progress from 1913 to its last milestone - connecting to the electricity grids of continental Europe in 2025, we can assess how far the country has come in achieving true energy independence and resilience.
"A rapid transition to renewable energy sources to achieve climate neutrality may lead to short-term energy security challenges. One of them is the development of social innovation in the energy sector. The Horizon Europe project "DeCrises", implemented by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), analyses how social innovations in the energy sector in the Baltic Sea Region countries, especially related to digitalisation, can help achieve climate neutrality goals and at the same time ensure a socially just energy transition", says Professor Aistė Balžekienė, senior researcher in DeCrises project at KTU.
According to her, as the number of prosumers (households that produce solar energy) increases, digital platforms for sharing surplus electricity can be developed. For example, neighbors with excess solar energy can sell it to those who want to buy it. Such digital solutions would ensure the fair distribution of energy, reduce the influence of large energy companies and increase grid resilience by promoting local, distributed energy production and consumption.
Read KTU’s article about energy transformations in Lithuania here:
