I527-290 ESRIF Final Report (WEB).indd - European Commission

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ESRIF is acutely aware that as a result of the EU policy, a signifi cant increase of renewable (“green”) energy will be evident.
With multiple locations of relatively solar energy and wind farms of diff erent sizes comes the challenge of securing their
infrastructure. In certain environments such as marine settings the challenges will be particularly diffi cult. Research can provide
meaningful insights and solutions to these challenges.
Guaranteeing energy security inevitably implies securing energy supplies. Improving the security of the energy supply chain
with technology and improved organisation will minimise additional security measures that may be required at a later stage.
Similarly the decentralisation of power generation could increase resistance to disruptions and failures of energy supply
networks, while reducing transmission losses and increasing effi ciency in use of the overall system.
However, the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources into existing energy systems is challenging. Further research
and development of new energy storage technologies is needed to manage the fl uctuating and intermittent character of
these energy sources. Besides development of renewable energy sources, an adequate electricity mix – including conventional
power plants – is required to guarantee security of supply.
A secure European energy security is related to all other critical infrastructures and enhances the robustness of the European
economy.
3.8.3 Transport
Transportation of goods and people will remain a critical area for security research for the next 20 years. Understanding
the vulnerabilities of diff erent modes of transport (i.e. rail/road/plane/ships, etc.) in the three environments of air-sea-land
requires further research and alignment with existing research programmes. Future trends in transport must also be secured,
while designing security into the fabric of transport infrastructures and means will require reliable output from research
programmes.
Europe is heavily dependent on regional and global movements of goods and people; the high degree of interdependence
between transport types focuses research requirements on systemic resilience. Comprehensive research into such
interdependencies and the drafting of operational contingencies and their legal and regulatory implications is necessary here.
As with all spatially dispersed critical infrastructures, prevention measures need to be broad but also focussed on nodes (air-/
seaports, railway stations, hubs). Therefore, the question of location, tracking and tracing remains a research priority, along
with devising appropriate identifi ers of attacks, sensors and networks and, fi nally, transmitters for incident information. This will
necessitate co-operation not only within Europe, but with countries of close proximity and/or high relevance.
Tools that identify prohibited and dangerous articles swiftly and reliably need to be enhanced much further than the current
generation of technology used today –not only in terms of speed and broad applicability (i.e. non-metallic detection) but
also for remote detection, large throughput environments capability, etc. Aviation, for example, needs improved detection
capability for explosives and other materials that can damage aircraft and airports.
3.9 Security economics
European security research should analyse in its programme all economic impacts of security aspects, investigate the economic
causes and consequences of insecurity, and the direct and indirect costs of security policies and how they contribute to or
hinder economic growth. ESRIF considers that analysis of the economics of terrorism, for example, -needs to be across-theborder
due to globalisation.
Understanding how perceptions and fear of terrorism shape behaviour is also important in addressing its economic impact.
Evaluating the cost-benefi t relationship of security measures, even if diffi cult to assess, is important. Cost calculations should
place specifi c emphasis on less visible impacts, including increased hidden costs, decreased effi ciency and trans-boundary
impacts such as the interaction between security behaviour and economic growth over time.
ESRIF FINAL REPORT - PART 1 • European Security Research And Innovation Agenda (ESRIA)