Episode 10

Q&A with Minister Sophie Hermans &

Season Wrap

Compiled by Devi Rajendran, Zia-Melchior Hoseini

Remarks from Minister Sophie Hermans, Ministery of Climate and Green Growth

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Our final episode of the season opens with a special dialogue: a Q&A with Minister Sophie Hermans, who reflects on the challenges of safeguarding energy security in a shifting geopolitical landscape. Minister Hermans stresses that reliable and affordable energy is not a luxury but the foundation of prosperity, autonomy, and freedom to act. She highlights how Europe’s reliance on Russia, China, and global price volatility has redefined strategic priorities, making credible climate and energy policies essential investments in national resilience. In this Q&A session organised by Liberaal Groen Network of VVD, she underscored the need for ambition paired with realism. Policies must remain feasible, affordable, and socially supported, avoiding endless delays and procedural bottlenecks. From offshore wind cables to integrated nitrogen and carbon rules, she calls for faster, smarter permitting and coherent sectoral arrangements.

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Afterwards, EnergySpark concludes Season One by reflecting on what discussions we have covered: hydrogen bankability, governance after COP29, Dutch policy mixes, energy justice, and professional environment. The episode ties together our key lesson—that technical innovation only scales when governance, finance, and justice align—and looks forward to continuing the dialogue in future seasons.

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