Keynote Speaker
Power Politics in the Polar World
— Dr. Isha Sharma (Circumpolar Energy & Resource Accord - CERA)History teaches us that energy security and operational capability are inseparable: a lesson that becomes painfully clear in extreme environments. Early Arctic installations frequently failed not due to external threats but to basic power limitations. Today's sophisticated systems may be technologically advanced, but they remain equally tethered to reliable energy sources in a region where temperatures can render conventional solutions inoperable.
Energy infrastructure in the Arctic has moved from technical challenges into a geopolitical cornerstone. The emerging undersea cable networks connecting select coastal settlements, the Floating Nuclear Power Plants anchoring industrial operations, and the advanced storage systems enabling renewable deployment all serve dual purposes.
Though deployment remains limited by harsh conditions and high installation costs, these systems simultaneously power communities and underpin operational continuity throughout the region. This infrastructure represents more than technological achievement—it establishes strategic presence and influence across the circumpolar north.
At this year's Energy & Propulsion Stream, Dr. Sharma will examine what she terms the "Arctic Energy Trilemma" - the delicate balance between security, sustainability, and sovereignty that shapes energy decisions across the circumpolar north.
The Arctic Energy Trilemma: the delicate balancing act between energy security, environmental sustainability, and national sovereignty—each essential, none easily prioritized. In the High North, every energy choice shapes survival, strategy, and stewardship.
Keynote Abstract
Dr. Isha Sharma, whose work at the Circumpolar Energy & Resource Accord provides critical analysis of the Arctic's evolving energy landscape, will deliver a keynote examining how nations navigate competing imperatives in powering their Arctic operations.
Her address will tackle the pressing challenge of ensuring robust energy security in a region where power disruption can rapidly escalate from inconvenience to humanitarian emergency.
From research stations to civilian settlements, Arctic operations exist in a perpetual state of energy vulnerability—a reality that influences regional planning across all sectors.
Dr. Sharma will explore the complex interplay between national pursuits of energy sovereignty through localized renewables and advanced storage in emerging Arctic population centers. However, she notes, that these objectives face the inherent challenges of creating resilient infrastructure in isolated conditions, where extreme costs and technical complexities often outpace initial planning expectations.
This analysis will consider how energy self-sufficiency has historically determined the viability of human presence in polar regions, from early exploration to contemporary settlements.
Her presentation will assess the development of undersea electricity and communication cable networks that enhance local resilience while often reflecting broader international relationships and partnerships. These infrastructure patterns raise important questions about energy interdependence in a region where cooperative frameworks have evolved considerably in recent decades.
She will discuss the strategic importance of energy diversification for Arctic settlements and operational sites, examining how redundant systems contribute to regional stability and resilience against both environmental events and potential disruptions.
The natural pattern of critical infrastructure requiring special consideration—regardless of its civilian purpose offers important context for current developments across the circumpolar region.
Attendees can expect insights into emerging concepts for AI-assisted "distributed energy assurance" and the technological advancements making localized renewable systems increasingly viable in polar conditions innovations with significance for all nations operating in the High North.
By Dr. Isha Sharma & Sascha Kenova | Illustrations by Miiko Uusitalo
Sascha travelled to dr. Sharma to interview her for this piece [March 3 2045]
Sascha travelled to dr. Sharma to interview her for this piece [March 3 2045]