Technologies that changed
the energy world
Old and New Dependencies

START Date: Wednesday, 6 May 2026

START Time: 17:00

Duration: 60 minutes

Venue: Saipem 6 Pl. des Degrés, 92800 Puteaux, France (registration is mandatory)

Format: In-Person & Online

Speaker

Maria Giulia de Donno (SPE Gaia Sustainability Program. European Liaison Coordinator)  is an energy professional with a background in petroleum engineering and strategic consulting, including experience at Eni and leading consulting firms. She currently serves as Strategic Capabilities Officer at NATO, where she focuses on investments in energy resilience and petroleum-related infrastructure.

Talk Description

Over the past decades, energy technologies have not only transformed how energy is produced, transported, and consumed, but have also reshaped global power structures and strategic dependencies. This presentation explores the geopolitical value of primary energy sources through the lens of the technologies that have fundamentally impacted the energy world.

From the legacy of the OPEC oil embargo to the boom of the Permian Basin, hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have revolutionized the U.S. energy industry, redefining energy security, trade balances, and geopolitical leverage. In parallel, the rapid expansion of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market has reduced regional barriers, enhanced supply-chain flexibility, diversified supply sources, and lowered structural reliance on fixed pipeline networks—reshaping energy diplomacy on a global scale.

Finally, the presentation examines how batteries and grid-scale energy storage are emerging as critical enablers of the energy transition. By improving grid stability and ensuring the reliability of intermittent solar and wind generation, storage technologies are not only technical solutions, but also strategic assets influencing future energy dependencies and resilience.

Agenda:

• 16:45 — Doors open

• 17:00 - 17:30 — SPE France activities overview

• 17:30 - 19:00 — Presentation 

• 19:00 - 20:00 — Networking drink at La Defense area

What you will leave with (our promise):

• A clear understanding of how major energy technologies have reshaped global power balances, strategic dependencies, and energy security.

• Practical insight into how hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling transformed the U.S. energy landscape and altered global trade and geopolitical leverage.

• A sharper view of how LNG expansion has changed energy diplomacy by improving supply flexibility, diversifying sources, and reducing reliance on fixed pipeline routes.

• A better grasp of why batteries and grid-scale storage are becoming strategic assets for grid stability, renewable integration, and long-term energy resilience.

Network outcome

Join us after the talk for an informal networking session. A great opportunity to continue the conversation, exchange ideas with peers, and connect with fellow professionals over drinks and snacks — just steps away from the venue.