Navigating the Energy Transition: Affordable, Renewable, and Secure – Backing the Critical Raw Materials Act to Reinforce EU Strategic Autonomy

2025-11-20T11:00:00+00:00

2025-11-20T12:30:00+00:00

https://www.expert-europe.eu//medias/image/thumbnail_14924356696919e04ecbee1.png

European Parliament

60, rue Wiertz

Brussels

1047

MEP EVENT Navigating the Energy Transition: Affordable, Renewable, and SecureBacking the Critical Raw Materials Act to Reinforce EU Strategic Autonomy📅 Date:Thursday, 20 November 2025🕐 Time:12:00 - 13:30 CET📍 Location:European Parliament, BrusselsRoom ASP 3G3Hosted byNicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES Member, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)Member, Committee on Public Health (SANT)Member, Committee on Fisheries (PECH)S&D GroupPartido Socialista Obrero Español About the EventThe Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), adopted in 2024, plays a crucial role in enabling Europe's clean energy transition and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By securing access to strategic raw materials, the Act underpins renewable energy deployment, energy storage, and affordable electrification for households and businesses.Yet, implementation faces significant challenges: institutional, socio-economic, and environmental. Beyond derisking supply chains, public trust and affordability of energy access emerge as decisive. Local communities often see extractive projects as conflicting with their well-being, whilst many Europeans struggle with high energy bills. A fair transition requires policies that link raw material extraction directly to clean, affordable energy supply and ensure that the economic and social benefits are widely shared.This session will examine how innovations at the intersection of raw materials and renewable energy production, such as CRM extraction from geothermal fluids, can strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy, reduce costs for households, and safeguard Europe's natural capital. It will also explore novel social and business models that can distribute benefits fairly, increasing public acceptance and ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition.Programme12:00Welcome & IntroductionMEP Nicolás González Casares (S&D, Spain)Katrin Kieling (Moderator and CRM-geothermal coordinator, GFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Geosciences)12:05Keynote SpeechMEP Davor Ivo Stier (EPP, Croatia) - TBC12:20Keynote: Critical Raw Materials and Renewable Energy - Building the Foundations for Affordable Clean Power in EuropeSimona Regenspurg (GFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Geosciences)Presentation of CRM-geothermal project results and impacts12:35Panel Discussion: Harnessing Innovation to Secure Raw Materials and Power the Energy TransitionThis panel explores how innovative solutions that integrate critical raw material extraction with renewable energy production can strengthen Europe's clean energy capacity, reduce costs, and enhance security of supply. At the same time, it will address the social dimension of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA): ensuring that implementation supports vulnerable consumers, reduces inequalities, and builds long-term trust and benefits for local communities.Panellists:• Christine Banken (European Commission)• Mark Harris (Cornish Lithium)• Simona Regenspurg (GFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Geosciences)• Kestutis Kupsys (Member, European Economic and Social Committee 2020-25, consumer rights activist)• Emily Ritchey (TCE)13:20Closing Remarks: Making the Energy Transition Affordable and Inclusive for All EuropeansMEP Nicolás González Casares (S&D, Spain)SpeakersKatrin KIELINGModeratorCRM-geothermal coordinatorGFZ Helmholtz-Centre for Geosciences Davor Ivo STIER Member of European ParliamentEPP GroupHrvatska demokratska zajednica Pr. Dr. Simona REGENSPURGResearcherGFZ Helmholtz-Centre for GeosciencesChristine BANKENDG ENEREuropean Commission Mark HARRISLead Process EngineerCornish Lithium Kestutis KUPSYSMember, EESC (2020-25)Consumer rights activist Emily RITCHEYPolicy ManagerT&E Important: This event is by invitation and only registered participants can be accepted. For capacity reasons, everyone is required to register for the event, even those who already have a European Parliament badge.

https://www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/navigating-the-energy-transition-affordable-renewable-and-secure-backing-the-critical-raw-materials-act-to-reinforce-eu-strategic-autonomy/2025/11/20/305

European Parliament

60, rue Wiertz
1047 BRUSSELS 60, rue Wiertz 1047 BRUSSELS

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Navigating the Energy Transition: Affordable, Renewable, and Secure – Backing the Critical Raw Materials Act to Reinforce EU Strategic Autonomy

MEP EVENT

Navigating the Energy Transition: Affordable, Renewable, and Secure

Backing the Critical Raw Materials Act to Reinforce EU Strategic Autonomy

📅 Date:

Thursday, 20 November 2025

🕐 Time:

12:00 - 13:30 CET

📍 Location:

European Parliament, Brussels

Room ASP 3G3

Hosted by

Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES

Member, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Member, Committee on Public Health (SANT)

Member, Committee on Fisheries (PECH)

S&D Group

Partido Socialista Obrero Español

About the Event

The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), adopted in 2024, plays a crucial role in enabling Europe's clean energy transition and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By securing access to strategic raw materials, the Act underpins renewable energy deployment, energy storage, and affordable electrification for households and businesses.

Yet, implementation faces significant challenges: institutional, socio-economic, and environmental. Beyond derisking supply chains, public trust and affordability of energy access emerge as decisive. Local communities often see extractive projects as conflicting with their well-being, whilst many Europeans struggle with high energy bills. A fair transition requires policies that link raw material extraction directly to clean, affordable energy supply and ensure that the economic and social benefits are widely shared.

This session will examine how innovations at the intersection of raw materials and renewable energy production, such as CRM extraction from geothermal fluids, can strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy, reduce costs for households, and safeguard Europe's natural capital. It will also explore novel social and business models that can distribute benefits fairly, increasing public acceptance and ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition.