At LF Energy Summit Europe 2026, Rolf Riemenschneider of the European Commission argued that open source is a key element of technology sovereignty and an important part of building a more interoperable software stack for energy.
In “Towards a Sovereign Industrial SW Stack in Energy”, Riemenschneider, Head of Sector IoT at the European Commission, connected Europe’s technology sovereignty agenda with the growing role of software in energy systems.
His focus was on modular open source building blocks, defined interfaces, industry participation, interoperability, and the role working code can play in standardization. Watch the full keynote here >
Open source as part of technology sovereignty
Riemenschneider placed open source within a broader European technology sovereignty agenda that includes cloud and AI infrastructure, an AI roadmap for energy, and an open digital ecosystem.
He connected that agenda to questions of industrial capacity, supply dependencies, software control, and standards.
In his closing takeaways, Riemenschneider said the European Commission has identified open source as a key element of technology sovereignty. He tied that goal to gaining greater control over software and reducing dependence on closed technology stacks.
He also emphasized the role of open source communities in contributing to international standardization.
Energy systems are becoming increasingly software-defined
Riemenschneider described an open software stack as extending across multiple layers, including virtualized operating systems, middleware, cloud infrastructure, and applications.
As more functions become software-defined, he argued that these layers need to work through interoperable architectures.
His preferred model is based on modular building blocks that can be exchanged, with interfaces and standards defined between them.
That interoperability becomes especially important as energy systems connect with other domains. Riemenschneider pointed to connections between energy infrastructure, building automation, charging, and other local systems.
Industry needs to help define the stack
Riemenschneider emphasized that industry cannot be a passive user of an open software stack.
Companies need to participate in defining interfaces, promoting standards, and testing whether different software building blocks actually interoperate.
Without that participation, he warned, organizations can remain dependent on vendor lock-in and closed ecosystems.
Riemenschneider said industry needs to take an active role in defining how the stack, its interfaces, and its key building blocks work together.
The automotive sector offers a model for energy
Riemenschneider pointed to the automotive industry as an example of how growing software complexity can drive companies toward shared software foundations.
As more vehicle functions have become software-defined, automotive companies have worked together on common software stacks, interfaces, and reference architectures.
He presented that experience as a possible model for the energy sector and specifically connected it to LF Energy.
Riemenschneider said industry participants could take an active role in agreeing on a stack, its interfaces, and the key building blocks required across it. He described the end-to-end work discussed at the Summit as a promising step in that direction.
Energy software needs both local and cloud infrastructure
Riemenschneider also made the software-stack discussion specific to energy infrastructure.
He described a need for both local control and automation and strong interaction with cloud services. In this model, cloud infrastructure and local infrastructure work together so software and automation can be deployed where they are needed.
He pointed to applications spanning substations, control rooms, charging, home energy management, and other demand-side systems.
At the boundary between the demand side and the energy system, he emphasized minimizing interfaces and agreeing on the interoperability needed between market-driven systems and the more regulated energy domain.
Working code can strengthen standards
Standardization was another central part of the keynote.
Riemenschneider argued that open source can provide reference implementations of standards, turning specifications into working code that industry can test.
He said these implementations can demonstrate the maturity of a standard, provide feedback to standards organizations, and help prove interoperability between emerging standards.
Riemenschneider said working implementations can show the maturity of standards, demonstrate interoperability, and provide feedback to standards organizations.
Open source still requires sustained investment
Riemenschneider also cautioned against assuming that access to open source code eliminates the work required to operate and sustain it.
He emphasized the need for investment in governance, community, maintainers, architecture, trust, and security.
For an industrial software stack, governance needs to address who is contributing, what problem the community is trying to solve, and how the different building blocks fit together.
He also argued that individual projects are not enough on their own. Complementary projects need a common architectural view and modular building blocks that can work together.
Security adds another layer of responsibility. Riemenschneider discussed cybersecurity requirements, rapidly changing threats, and the additional security challenges created by shorter innovation cycles and the growing use of AI and connected digital systems.
From open source projects to an industrial software stack
Riemenschneider closed the keynote by returning to the relationship between open source, sovereignty, architecture, and industry participation.
His key takeaways were:
- Open source is a key element of technology sovereignty. Control over software is part of maintaining greater control over critical technology.
- Open architectures are essential. Riemenschneider connected them to a broader cloud, edge, IoT, and AI ecosystem.
- Energy can learn from other industries. He presented the automotive software-stack model as an example that could inform collaboration in energy and at LF Energy.
- Open source communities can contribute to standardization. Reference implementations and working software can help connect standards with real interoperability.
- Governance, trust, and security remain ongoing challenges. Sustainable industrial open source requires more than code alone.
Riemenschneider argued that individual projects are not enough. Complementary projects need common architecture, modular building blocks, defined interfaces, and industry participation to work together as part of a broader software stack.
Watch the keynote
Watch the full keynote, “Towards a Sovereign Industrial SW Stack in Energy.”
Frequently asked questions
Why did Rolf Riemenschneider connect open source with technology sovereignty?
Riemenschneider said the European Commission has identified open source as a key element of technology sovereignty. He connected that goal to greater control over software, reduced dependencies, open architectures, and stronger participation in standards.
What does an industrial software stack for energy look like in the keynote?
Riemenschneider described modular, interoperable software building blocks spanning local systems, virtualization, cloud infrastructure, middleware, and applications, with industry helping define interfaces and standards.
How can open source support standardization in energy?
Riemenschneider argued that open source reference implementations can put standards into working code, demonstrate maturity and interoperability, and provide feedback to standards organizations.
About LF Energy
LF Energy is the Linux Foundation’s neutral home to build the digital foundation for energy together. We host more than three dozen open source projects used to plan, operate, and modernize energy systems. The portfolio spans from transmission system modeling to substation virtualization, smart meter integration to EV charging. We provide the trust layer: neutral governance, legal frameworks, security practices, and community of practitioners that turn open source software, standards, and data into infrastructure the industry can depend on for decades. Members include utilities, energy companies, vendors, researchers, and technology providers, aligned to deliver affordable, reliable, safe, and clean energy. For more information, please visit lfenergy.org.
About The Linux Foundation
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AI Disclosure
This post used artificial intelligence tools for research, structural assistance, or grammatical refinement. The final content was reviewed, edited, and validated by human contributors to LF Energy to ensure accuracy and alignment with our community standards. We remain committed to transparency in the use of generative technologies within the open source ecosystem.
Last updated: October 22, 2026