1st Energy & Sustainability Knowledge Forum: Reframing the Energy Transition by the HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @ Alba Graduate Business School
The 1st Energy & Sustainability Knowledge Forum: Reframing the Energy Transition, the new dialogue platform organized by the HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @ Alba Graduate Business School, was successfully completed. The Forum took place on November 19 at the Grand Hyatt Athens, bringing together representatives from the political and business sectors, financial institutions, and the academic community.
Prof. Dr. Kostas Andriosopoulos, Director of the Center, opened the proceedings by emphasizing the need for a secure and realistic energy transition. Dr. Edward C. Wingenbach, President of the American College of Greece, highlighted the importance of the Alba–HELLENiQ ENERGY partnership in creating a dynamic Center that bridges education and entrepreneurship. The President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Alba Board Member, John D. Saracakis, underscored that progress requires continuous skills development and a fair distribution of benefits.
In the discussion that followed, Minister of Environment and Energy, Stavros Papastavrou, spoke about Greece’s strategic role in the region, based on modern infrastructure, geopolitical position, and a stable institutional framework. The U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, stressed the importance of transatlantic cooperation for a reliable energy supply. The contributions highlighted Greece’s position as an energy gateway for Southeastern Europe, with emphasis on the Vertical Corridor, FSRUs, and interconnections that strengthen supply adequacy during the transition period. HELLENiQ ENERGY’s CEO, Andreas Shiamishis, noted that the priority remains ensuring a reliable energy system for the coming decades, until new technologies mature, with sustainability guiding every decision.
In the financing segment, Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, emphasized the importance of blended financing, regulatory stability, and predictable RES pricing to accelerate investments in offshore wind, storage, and hydrogen. Alexandra Sdoukou, Press Representative of New Democracy, highlighted Greece’s strengthened position as a regional energy hub through new international partnerships, interconnections, and growing investor confidence, while noting the need to balance ambitious climate policy with maintaining competitive energy costs.
In a special section on European regulatory developments, Gerasimos Thomas, Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union of the EU, underlined the importance of a predictable yet flexible carbon pricing framework as carbon pricing mechanisms expand globally. Special emphasis was also placed on human capital, with Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameus, stressing the need for targeted and systematic reskilling and upskilling, particularly in specialties that support the growth of renewables. Finally, the role of Artificial Intelligence was highlighted—not only in optimizing the energy transition but also in redefining system planning and decision-making across the entire energy value chain.
The HELLENiQ ENERGY Center for Sustainability and Energy @ Alba Graduate Business School aspires to establish a forum for knowledge exchange and discussion on critical energy and technological developments, fostering dialogue on energy and sustainability, and showcasing how knowledge and research can guide effective policy and investment decisions.
