Tom Middendorp opens Wind Meets Gas 2025

Wind meets Gas is the symposium in the Northern Netherlands about hydrogen and offshore energy around the North Sea that is organised annually New Energy Coalition The ninth edition of the symposium took place on October 9th and 10th at the Martinikerk in Groningen. This year's theme was "energy trilemma," or finding a balance between the transition to greener energy and ensuring affordability and safety.

From threats to resilience

To give visitors a different perspective on the topic of energy security, Tom Middendorp, a retired general from the Dutch Ministry of Defence, delivered an inspiring opening keynote. He began his keynote by saying, "I'm not giving you the energy solution, because you are the solution." He did, however, share with the audience his career in the military, where he encountered various problems surrounding energy security. He even used energy as a weapon instead of a lifeline. By addressing these issues and making them open to discussion, Middendorp aims to raise the urgency of a secure energy system and has even earned him the nickname "climate general."

He explained, among other things, that we humans take a number of resources for granted: food, water, energy, and raw materials. But today, countries no longer compete based on ideology, but on access. Countries can, for example, use access to energy as a political weapon. A single attack on a gas pipeline can send shockwaves through the market, something we in the Netherlands have experienced firsthand over the past five years due to the unrest in the world. Being strong and more competitive won't solve that problem. Middendorp indicated that we need a new kind of resilience for this. A resilience that requires shock resistance and adaptability. For the Netherlands, the North Sea offers an opportunity to become our strategic backbone, so that we are no longer dependent on more distant countries for our energy supply.

As Middendorp points out, "going green isn't a left-wing hobby." It's a global challenge. "Think big, act small, start somewhere," is his advice. In other words, true resilience doesn't begin at our borders, but in our communities. The Wind Meets Gas audience is tasked with coming up with the energy solution. He concluded by saying, "We're building a legacy for our children. Let's make them proud."

About Wind meets Gas

Wind Meets Gas annually brings together more than 500 international professionals from the energy industry, government, and academia to discuss the latest developments and share knowledge about hydrogen and offshore energy. You'll also have the opportunity to explore new business opportunities during one-on-one matchmaking sessions with other participants and an exclusive networking dinner. On Friday, we invite the younger generation to join the discussion.