Redefining Energy Security in the Energy Transition Era: Lessons from the Ukraine War

 

In a world where energy is no longer just about physical resources, and technology, grid resilience, and geopolitics play fundamental roles, the Ukraine war demonstrated how international shocks can fundamentally redefine energy security. From Europe's gas crisis to the leap in green technologies, this analysis presents key lessons on the complexities of energy security in an age of transition and explores pathways for countries towards a sustainable and crisis-resilient future.

Energy security, as a cornerstone of national and international policy, has traditionally referred to the ability of countries to ensure stable, reliable, affordable, and adequate energy supplies. In the past, this concept primarily focused on three main pillars: access to fossil fuel resources, securing transit routes, and price stability. However, today's world faces multi-layered and complex transformations that render traditional frameworks insufficient, making a comprehensive and multidimensional redefinition of energy security essential. These transformations include the global transition to clean energy, advancements in new technologies, pressures from climate change, and geopolitical complexities. They indicate that energy security is no longer confined to physical resources and must encompass technology, power grids, critical minerals, digital infrastructure, economic flexibility, and international coordination.

One of the most significant developments in redefining energy security is the focus on technology and critical minerals. In the past, countries assessed their energy security based on oil and gas reserves and control over transit routes. But today, countries that possess clean energy production technologies, smart grid management, and advanced storage systems play a key role in global energy security. Clean energy technologies include electricity generation from solar and wind resources, hydrogen technology, advanced batteries, and smart energy consumption management systems. Furthermore, access to critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements, which are essential for producing clean energy technologies, has become a primary dimension of energy security.

The technological dimensions of energy security also mean the ability to develop and localize clean energy technologies. Countries capable of producing solar cells, wind turbines, lithium batteries, and advanced storage systems not only reduce their dependence on energy and technology imports but also strengthen their geopolitical standing and global competitiveness. This shift demonstrates that today's energy security is both technology-driven and policy-driven. Countries with a technological advantage can control energy prices, accelerate green innovation, and enhance their position in international negotiations.

Another critical dimension of the redefined energy security is the resilience of power grids and energy infrastructure. Renewable energies, particularly solar and wind are inherently intermittent and unpredictable. Therefore, power grids must be smart and flexible, incorporating advanced storage systems and smart load management. Sudden blackouts or power fluctuations can disrupt the entire digitalized economy of nations. Electric vehicles, heavy industries, and household consumption are directly dependent on the power grid. Advanced countries such as Germany, Denmark, and Japan demonstrate successful examples of grid resilience through extensive investment in smart grids and storage batteries (Chibueze Munonye, 2025).

Cybersecurity has also become a central pillar of energy security. Control systems, smart grids, storage equipment, and consumption management systems all rely on digital technologies. Any cyberattack can disrupt energy production, distribution, and consumption, causing widespread economic and social damage. Recent cyberattacks on energy infrastructure in Europe, America, and Saudi Arabia's Aramco facilities have shown that without cyber protection, energy networks are highly vulnerable (Venkatachary et al., 2024). Energy security during the transition period is incomplete without cybersecurity and exposes countries to unpredictable shocks.

The economic dimensions of energy security have also changed. The investments required for developing renewables, hydrogen, storage, and smart grids are substantial, and countries must balance environmental sustainability, economic welfare, and grid resilience. Rising energy costs, even with reduced fossil fuel consumption, can create economic and social pressure and diminish public acceptance of the energy transition. Countries that can manage this balance will both enhance their energy security and maintain their economic competitiveness.

The geopolitical dimensions of redefining energy security are also crucial. The energy transition is shifting the balance of power from fossil fuel exporters to countries that control clean energy technologies and raw materials. Middle Eastern and North African countries with oil and gas resources must devise new strategies to maintain their role due to the gradual decline in global demand. East Asian countries, the European Union, and the United States have strengthened their geopolitical position by investing in clean energy technology, grids, and infrastructure. The ability of countries to engage in international coordination, manage technology and access new resources is a fundamental part of energy security in the new era.

In the past, consumers played a passive role, merely receiving energy. However, today, homes, electric vehicles, smart grids, and storage equipment have enabled consumers to play an active role. This shift has transformed energy security from a centralized concept to a distributed, participatory, and multi-level one.

The Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, created an unprecedented geopolitical and energy crisis, further highlighting the importance of redefining energy security. Russia, as one of the world's largest producers and exporters of oil and gas, played a key role in supplying energy to Europe, providing over 40% of the European Union's natural gas. With the start of the war and the imposition of widespread international sanctions against Russia, energy supplies dwindled, and the global market faced a price shock. This crisis demonstrated that over-reliance on a single energy-exporting country can severely impact the energy security of an entire continent and make countries vulnerable to external shocks.  figure 1 shows European countries with the highest dependence on Russian gas before the Ukraine war. This indicates that crises like the Ukraine war deal a fundamental blow to countries dependent on energy imports from a specific geographical region.

Source: Deutsche Welle, 2022

For example, some experts propose forming a U.S.-Russia energy alliance to manage and stabilize the supply and price of gas to Europe(Karić,2025). The sudden surge in energy prices placed intense pressure on the European economy. Energy price indices on European exchanges reached historic records in the first months of the war, burdening energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, and food production with heavy costs. Figure 2 shows the global crude oil price chart and the price surge following the Ukraine war.
 
Fig2: Prices of WTI and Brent crude oil from June 24, 2021 to October 27, 2022

Source: Zhang and other, 2024

Governments were compelled to rapidly implement support packages and energy conservation policies to mitigate the inflationary impact of rising energy costs on the economy and citizens' livelihoods. This experience demonstrated that contemporary energy security is no longer confined to securing physical resources but also encompasses economic resilience, adaptability, and crisis management capabilities. In response to the crisis, European countries swiftly moved to diversify their energy sources. LNG contracts were established with the United States, Qatar, and West African nations, while strategic gas and oil storage networks were activated. Figure 3 illustrates the world's largest LNG exporters.
 
Fig3: Liquefied natural gas export capacity

Source: postfactum.co, 2025

Investment in renewable energy, including solar and wind power, and hydrogen technology increased to reduce long-term dependence on fossil fuels. European countries also reinforced long-term policies for energy conservation and enhanced efficiency, accelerating the implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction programs. Another critical dimension of the crisis was grid resilience and demand-side management. Soaring energy prices and supply constraints made load management, advanced storage, and smart grid systems crucial for preventing widespread blackouts. The experience of the Ukraine war demonstrated that power grids lacking flexibility, digitalization, and advanced storage capabilities are unable to cope with sudden crises. Cyberattacks also emerged as another serious risk, compelling nations to strengthen digital security and control networks.

The practical lessons of the Ukraine war for global energy security are significant. First, diversifying sources and routes is essential to reduce vulnerability. Second, grid resilience and the ability to manage demand during a crisis are of critical importance. Third, cybersecurity and the protection of digital infrastructure are fundamental pillars of energy security. Fourth, international coordination and long-term investment in clean energy technologies can empower countries to confront global shocks. Ultimately, this crisis revealed that contemporary energy security is a multidimensional concept encompassing technology, grids, strategic reserves, economics, geopolitics, and international cooperation.

A comparative analysis of the Ukraine crisis with past energy crises reveals that while energy security has always been subject to geopolitical and economic conditions, the unique characteristics of the current crisis have fundamentally altered its nature. The 1970s oil crisis, triggered by OPEC's oil embargo against Western nations, led to a sudden spike in oil prices. At that time, the focus of countries was on physical oil reserves and controlling transit routes, and there was a relative timeframe for adaptation. Consequently, measures by industrialised nations primarily involved managing strategic reserves and adjusting consumption, while grid technology and renewables did not yet play a significant role. Energy disruptions in the Middle East and Africa are further examples of traditional crises primarily centred on oil and gas supply, where countries, by focusing on source diversification and storage, managed to avert severe damage. In these crises, modern energy technologies and grid resilience received less attention, with the main emphasis being on resource access and price stability.

In contrast, the energy crisis stemming from the Ukraine war possesses distinct features that highlight the necessity of redefining energy security. First, the coincidence of this crisis with the global transition to clean energy meant countries faced not only physical resource shortages but also technological risks and dependencies on critical minerals. Wind turbines, solar panels, lithium batteries, and other clean energy technologies require stable access to minerals, and the concentration of production for these materials in a limited number of countries has created a new geopolitical risk. Second, the digital and smart grids essential for renewable energy have become fragile and vulnerable, where cyberattacks and production fluctuations can disrupt the entire system. Third, the Ukraine crisis demonstrated that energy security is no longer solely a national issue; international coordination, multilateral energy agreements, and regional cooperation are crucial for reducing vulnerability.

This crisis also underscores the differences in energy security among countries at varying development levels. European nations with advanced infrastructure, energy storage, and smart grids were able to manage the shock of reduced Russian gas supplies, albeit at high economic costs. In contrast, countries with weak infrastructure or heavy reliance on fossil fuels faced more severe crises and increased economic risks. This reality indicates that energy security in the new era is a multi-layered concept intertwined with technology, economics, and politics. Comparisons with other crises, such as the East Asian oil crises and gas supply disruptions in Africa, show that modern energy security requires a combination of factors: grid resilience, resource diversification, economic management, and cyber protection. The Ukraine crisis is a real-world example of the need for long-term investment in clean energy technologies and smart grids, as these measures not only enhance energy resilience but also strengthen countries' geopolitical independence and international bargaining power.

Another lesson from the Ukraine crisis is the importance of economic flexibility and smart policymaking. The energy price surge, inflationary shock, and pressure on industries and consumers revealed that countries must have flexible programs to cope with market volatilities. This includes a mix of strategic reserves, energy diversification, investment in new technologies, and supportive economic policies. Countries capable of building such resilience can mitigate the effects of crises and ensure their economic and social sustainability. Furthermore, the Ukraine crisis highlighted the importance of energy diplomacy and international cooperation. No single country can guarantee its energy security alone in today's complex world. European countries, by forming regional alliances, securing LNG contracts, and making joint investments in renewables, exemplify this approach.
 

Conclusion


Energy security is no longer merely about resource access or controlling transit routes. The Ukraine crisis and the developments of the energy transition have demonstrated that energy security is a multidimensional and dynamic concept. It encompasses technology, grids, critical raw materials, economic resilience, cybersecurity, and international coordination. Countries that manage these dimensions effectively will be able to play a central role in the future energy order, while those adhering to traditional models will remain vulnerable to geopolitical, economic, and technological shocks. The experience of the Ukraine war showed that energy security requires strategic planning, long-term investment, and flexible policymaking. Success in this field necessitates a deep understanding of the interplay between technology, economics, geopolitics, and international cooperation.
 

References

Ebrahim Rezaei Rad



About the author: 





Ebrahim Rezaei Rad is a PhD candidate in International Relations and University lecturer. His primary area of research expertise lies in energy studies, energy security, and geopolitics. He has authored several scholarly articles in these fields and has presented his work at international conferences focused on energy and geopolitical issues. Additionally, he has co-authored several books on related topics in collaboration with other researchers.


Footnotes:
[1] IFIMES - International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has a special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council ECOSOC/UN in New York since 2018, and it is the publisher of the international scientific journal "European Perspectives."


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
IFIMES – International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has Special Consultative status at ECOSOC/UN, New York, since 2018. 
Ubicazione: Lubiana, Slovenia

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