What is energy security? Why is it important?
Energy security affects households, businesses and entire economies. Here’s what it means, why it matters and how Equinor contributes.
Energy security means that societies have reliable and sufficient access to energy when they need it, both today and in the future. It relies on systems that can produce, transport, store and deliver energy continuously, including during crises, market shocks or political conflict.
Energy security is defined as
- Available: energy when we need it
- Affordable: at prices we can afford
- Reliable: both now and in the future
Definitions of energy security are widely shared across institutions, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) which analyses how reliable energy supply, affordability and system resilience underpin modern economies.
Energy security is a key element in the energy trilemma: balancing security of supply, affordability and sustainability.
