Powered by Space: Building Resilient Energy Systems

Moderator: Hanna Smith

The panel will discuss how the security and resilience of energy systems can be enhanced, and how space technology and space data contribute to this. Each panelist will answer the moderator’s questions from their own perspective, bringing diversity and breadth to the conversation. Toward the end of the discussion, we aim to reserve time for a few questions from the audience.

Lukasz Kosma Bonenberg is a Policy and Scientific Officer at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy. He is responsible for the European Radionavigation Plan and proposed technologies, with a focus on the proposed EU C-T (Complementary Time) and C-PN (Complementary Position and Navigation) ecosystem, which combines existing and future European space and terrestrial assets. This is intended to increase infrastructure resilience and European competitiveness.

Lukasz’s experience lies in resilient PNT, multi-sensor GNSS-based navigation, complementary non-GNSS means of providing time and position, and relevant testing. His prior experience includes the University of Nottingham, from which he also holds a PhD, and the private sector.

Tiina Nurmi has extensive work experience in industry working with telecommunications solutions and energy networks, with a B.Sc. in Computer Electronics and Telecommunication and an M.Sc. in Industrial Management, Knowledge Management and Information Networks.

In her current position, she represents Finland in the European Space Agency’s Industrial Policy Committee and, as a member of the Finnish Space Committee secretariat, is responsible for coordinating the Finnish space community’s Space Business Forum.

Petri Hovila has worked in the energy industry for 27 years in various engineering, program management, and line management positions. Currently he works as a senior principal engineer in ABB Electrification, Distribution Solutions and is responsible for R&D programs. He has experience and interest in developing power system protection, control and monitoring applications and related technologies.

Elham Ahmadi is an Assistant Professor in AI for the space economy and satellite data applications. Her research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, and resilient navigation systems, with a focus on advanced estimation techniques, machine learning, multi-sensor fusion, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for autonomous systems.

She develops robust, data-driven solutions that enhance navigation resilience in GNSS-denied environments with particular emphasis on jamming and spoofing threats, while also advancing the performance and efficiency of energy systems through intelligent use of space-based data. Her work strengthens the trustworthiness and real-time integration of space-enabled services that underpin transportation, energy, and broader societal resilience and sustainability.