14.04.2025
2025 has marked a major event for Latvia, with a successful connection to the European power grid, cutting the last remaining energy ties with Russia and Belarus. This is not the end of the global challenges that the energy sector must face however: what remains is not only political, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the policies of President Trump in the US, but is also related to the electrification and climate neutrality targets. Building a reliable and secure electricity system when security is in short supply, as well as what homework Latvia still needs to do, will be discussed by government policymakers, industry experts and international guests at the fifth AC/DC Tech energy innovation forum. Yan Tsymbalyuk, international relations manager at DTEK, Ukraine’s largest power distribution system operator, will be a special guest at the event, sharing the company’s experience of working in the context of a full-scale war.
The conference will take place at 11:00 on 9 May and will be streamed online on the Sadales tīkls pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.
‘I think Kristian Ruby, secretary general of Eurelectric, the European electricity industry federation, was very accurate in comparing everything that has happened in the energy sector over the past five years to a roller coaster with countless unexpected twists and turns. Our sector changes and moves forward, but the challenges don’t end, and we need to look for solutions and work on necessary improvements all the time. We have achieved a lot already, but there’s still a lengthy to-do list ahead of us, and this year once again, we’ll involve competent, experienced experts in tackling some of the biggest issues. What is particularly important is that we’ll also be able to hear about the experience of a distribution system operator from Ukraine and the lessons learnt from working in war conditions,’ said Sandis Jansons, Chairman of the Board of Sadales tīkls.
Kaspars Melnis, Latvia’s Minister of Climate and Energy, will open the conference. Viesturs Ķerus, ornithologist and environmental activist, will talk about the real impact of climate change on the environment and bird populations; Līga Kurevska, State Secretary for the Ministry of Climate and Energy, will outline the current issues in energy sector policy; and Alda Ozola, Chairwoman of the Public Utilities Commission Council, will discuss the priorities in regulating public services. Tom Morris, an EY Global Renewables expert, will present Grids for Speed, an extensive study on the investments required in Europe’s power grids to prepare them for the needs of the public, electrification, and achieving decarbonisation targets.
Two panel discussions will be held after the presentations. Experts from Sadales tīkls, Enefit, Ignitis, and Latvenergo will discuss the new reality of the electricity market after its synchronisation with Europe, while the Ministry of Climate and Energy, Sadales tīkls, the Latvian Heating Company Association, and SIA Bucher Municipal experts will talk about how to promote electrification in Latvia.
As always, the forum will be moderated by tech enthusiast and event host Artis Ozoliņš. For the event schedule and details of the forum, see sadalestikls.lv/acdc.
The AC/DC Tech forum is organised by the Latvian electricity distribution system operator, AS ‘Sadales tīkls’, aimed at building a conversation on the transformation of the sector among decision-makers, industry experts, market participants, and businesses, and informing the broader public about the challenges and coming changes in the power supply sector. The forum is an annual industry event. The first AC/DC Tech forum took place in 2021.