Europe’s clean energy charge: grid independence and shipping solutions

Ina Tamosiuniene, now a project manager at Siemens Energy in Lithuania, recalls the blockades and dark streets of her country’s fight for independence in 1990, when she was a child. “I saw history … I saw my parents fighting for independence,” she said.

The memories give her work added meaning. Last year, she received a long-awaited phone call. “I heard my commissioning manager say: ‘Success – we’ve done it,'” she said. As project manager at Siemens Energy Lithuania, Tamosiuniene helped her country synchronize with Europe and achieve full energy independence. “As project manager, the buck stops with you,” she said.

Siemens Energy recruited Tamosiuniene to oversee two projects that enabled Lithuania to realize energy autonomy: connecting four battery parks that provide instant grid backup and installing three synchronous compensators for system stability.

The synchronous compensators are part of Europe’s largest grid-independence project in decades. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia disconnected from the Russian grid in 2025, synchronizing with Europe and strengthening energy security.

Her background in automatic systems and economics helped her grasp the complex project, the first of its kind for the Baltic nation. Often navigating uncharted territory, she credited her ability to ask difficult questions – even what she calls “stupid” ones – for her success.

“I had to ensure all my teams had what they needed to get the job done. A project manager is the person who has the overview and who must make the best decisions in the interests of the overall work,” she said, adding that supportive managers were always on hand to advise.

“If you’re open to challenges, can communicate and are not afraid to fail, you’ll be just fine in [the energy] sector,” she said. “That’s what I really appreciate about Siemens Energy – you will never be punished for a wrong decision, if you can explain why you made the call.”

Whenever she sees the infrastructure she and her team built, she feels deep satisfaction. “I’m proud that Lithuania created this, and I’m really proud that Siemens Energy was part of the project and I had the opportunity to be there too,” she said.

Early in her career, which began in transport, she was often the only woman on the team. Today, more women hold senior positions in energy. The industry will continue to offer jobs, she said. “At Siemens Energy you can find the right project – whether it’s in logistics, management or engineering and there are fantastic opportunities to work on projects around the world.”

While Tamosiuniene focuses on national energy independence, Hamburg-based engineer Marvin Rust aims to clean up a polluting corner of the sector with pioneering technology. Both share drive and expertise to lead change in an industry with high demand for new skills.

Renewables are transforming energy systems across Europe, but the marine sector has been slow to change. Shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. “We are trying to reduce this,” said Rust, who aims to speed the transition to cleaner fuels and electrification.

Rust gained experience refitting aging ships with new software and hardware and has seen dramatic improvements. “It really is an innovative sector with a lot of improvements in progress,” he said.

As group manager of Siemens Energy’s ship solutions department, he oversees alternatives to traditional diesel engines. For smaller vessels, options include battery systems with backup from cleaner fossil fuels; some short-distance ferries use fully electric engines.

“These are really complex systems – a ship is basically a small city that needs to get from A to B without the lights going out,” Rust said. Ships require energy for propulsion, onboard systems, and safety. “Safety – keeping the lights on at sea – motivates me to engineer reliable solutions,” he said.

Along with about 30 colleagues globally, Rust is pioneering a modular, scalable approach to marine power. Emerging technologies include compact ship batteries that reduce the need for bulky diesel generators.

Tailored energy solutions could help move away from fossil fuels, he believes. “There’s a big opportunity for the marine world to shift toward this catalogue-style approach,” he said. He consulted with US colleagues to create New York state’s first electric-powered ferry, now operating reduced-emission journeys to Governors Island.

Rust is confident the next generation of marine engineers can combat the sector’s traditional mindset. As ports modernize and electrify, shore-based charging infrastructure will improve.

With about 15 years at the company, Rust trains apprentices in a dual program. “I have five at the moment. It’s a really great programme,” he said. After four and a half years, apprentices become integrated and can be developed into lead engineers and project managers. “I really love doing that,” he said.

“If you want to achieve different ways of working, you have to inspire colleagues – show them a target, a ‘flag on Mount Everest’ that will help them develop and grow,” he said.