Europe on the move: A conversation with Hitachi Energy’s CEO

In this episode of Europe on the move, McKinsey senior partner, Lorenzo Moavero Milanesi, speaks with Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of Hitachi Energy, one of the world’s largest suppliers of grid infrastructure and high-voltage direct current technology, with operations across more than 140 countries. They discuss why energy has become a strategic priority for Europe and why today’s decisions will shape resilience for decades to come.   The conversation examines the limits of the “energy trilemma” of affordability, security, and sustainability, highlighting that there are no permanent solutions—only ongoing trade‑offs. Andreas explains why Europe needs a unified energy strategy, faster execution, and a fundamentally new approach to grid planning and interconnectivity.   They make the case for a unified European energy strategy, explains why grid investment reduces costs rather than adding to them, and is direct about where Europe is falling behind: a pipeline of engineering talent that is not keeping pace with demand, under-investment in interconnection and bureaucratic timelines measured in years.   This episode is for leaders who understand the urgency of the European competitiveness debate and want to know what execution requires.    Europe on the move is McKinsey's flagship podcast series on European competitiveness. For more insights, visit https://www.mckinsey.com/europe  See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information