On June 17, 2026, Plexi Space hosted “Autonomy”, the first flagship event of WIRED Greece, the Greek edition of the international media platform covering technology, innovation, and emerging trends. The opening panel set out the key challenges, geopolitical considerations, and emerging opportunities for Greece along its path to the green transition, featuring Nikos Tsafos, Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy; Dr. Elena Lazarou, Director General of ELIAMEP; and Professor Konstantinos Aravosis, holder of the UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy at the National Technical University of Athens. The discussion focused on key questions: how can the Greek energy networks be upgraded to support clean energy production? How can green innovation strengthen the future competitiveness of Greek businesses? And what role does geopolitics play in shaping energy autonomy?
Energy autonomy cannot be discussed in isolation from the broader geopolitical context. Against this backdrop, Dr. Lazarou addressed the issue within an increasingly unstable global environment, highlighting both the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war and less visible pressures — from a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz to conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa, where critical raw materials for the green transition, such as cobalt, lithium, and manganese, are sourced. She also stressed the need for resilience, infrastructure security, and a strong cyber domain. As a positive example, she pointed to the integration of Ukraine and Moldova into European energy networks. Stressing the urgency of early preparation and building up energy and resource reserves before crises hit, she set the tone that ultimately inspired the title of the WIRED Greece article, available in full at wired.com.gr.
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