On the 27th of January, HCSS Strategic Analyst Irina Patrahau will speak about renewable fuels, European military fuel readiness, the role of alternative fuels in military logistics together with other experts.
Join this webinar that will explore how eFuels can strengthen Europe’s security, resilience and strategic autonomy by enhancing the robustness of our fuel supply in times of crisis and defence. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has brought large‑scale conflict back to Europe and has highlighted how closely energy security, military readiness and geopolitical stability are intertwined.
How can renewable fuels contribute to European military fuel readiness and support NATO’s defence strategies and logistics? What is needed to build a resilient fuel supply system that can provide secure supplies in a defence scenario, and what roles should EU institutions and member states play? How can large‑scale eFuel projects help create home grown renewable fuels in Europe and act as a dual‑use backbone for both civilian and military demand?
As the EU reorganises its energy system to reduce dependence on unreliable suppliers, renewable fuels offer more than just a pathway to lower CO₂ emissions. They can also enable production within the EU or with trusted partners, diversify energy imports and increase the resilience of our fuel supply, including for defence and critical infrastructure.
In this webinar, we will discuss how NATO and its member states are beginning to integrate renewable fuels into their planning, what logistical and operational challenges arise, and how a European network of renewable fuel production capacities can enhance security of supply in times of crisis.
Date: 27 January, 2026
Time: 09.00 – 10.00 am
Location: Online, register via this link
About the speakers
Irina Patrahau – is the Chair of the Energy Security and Critical Minerals initiatives at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. Irina’s work is focused on the impact of geopolitical tensions and strategic competition on the security and resilience of energy and raw materials supply chains in the EU. Her work also centers on the political economy of the energy transition, including emerging clean tech markets and low-carbon supply chains, and the implications for critical energy infrastructure and the decarbonization of energy intensive industries.
Shena Britzen – is the Head of Hydrogen Program bei Rheinmetall, “Projectvision GIGA PtX”
Maximilian Backhaus – is the Chief Commercial Officer at INERATEC, bringing deep expertise in scaling global businesses and driving sustainable growth. With a background in strategy consulting at Monitor Group, he later spent a decade as Global CMO at HelloFresh, helping grow the company from €14 million to €7.6 billion in revenue and leading its expansion to more than 18 markets through IPO. Since joining INERATEC in 2024, he focuses on strengthening market presence and advancing the mission to defossilize industry.
Moderation:
Ralf Diemer – is the CEO of the eFuel Alliance e.V. based in Berlin and Brussels. During his law degree in Tuebingen, he worked in the Baden-Wuerttemberg state parliament and in the European Parliament. He then started his professional career in Berlin as an office manager in the German parliament. After moving to the German Association of the Automotive Industry, he headed the Brussels branch there for ten years and then the department for Economic, Trade and Climate Protection Policy in Berlin. He was involved in numerous legislative processes on a national and European level, with a focus on climate, environmental and trade policy. Political interest and involvement in politics have always been of central importance to him.
Experts
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