Innovation redefined for fractured age of geopolitical tension and climate urgency

The role of innovation in the energy transition was redefined and reiterated in Germany today.

Now, I grant you, if you were ever going to hear a robust argument for greater innovation, you’d hear it here in Bonn at the biennial Innovation Summit organised by the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Nonetheless, it was striking that this event crystallised a growing sentiment that innovation – so often a throwaway phrase in energy discussions – is now seen as the bedrock of security, decarbonisation and competitiveness.

IRENA director-general Francesco La Camera opened proceedings by stating: “Innovation is no longer optional – it is indispensable. It plays a critical role in helping us to stick to our global commitments by creating opportunities for all, particularly in a world of growing geopolitical fragmentation.”

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He said while “most of the technologies” for the energy transition were “at our disposal, their commercialisation is requiring ongoing innovation”.

“The scale and urgency of the energy transition demands new thinking, new tools and new partnerships. At the same time, even the brightest innovation is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Successful innovation is shaped by context, grounded in local realities, and driven by shared ambition.”

Innovation acceleration

He said that in industrialised countries, “innovation often means upgrading legacy systems, modernising grids, integrating artificial intelligence and scaling up digital platforms to manage complexities. It is all about acceleration.”

All of which is true: stick a pin in a map of energy conferences and you’ll hear all of the above. However, he added that “in emerging, developing economies, innovation can also take on a different shape”.

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“It means bypassing outdated infrastructure, expanding access, and building systems that are resilient, inclusive and ready for challenges and opportunities that may come in the near future.”

Innovation, he said, is about “creating value locally and helping communities to generate, manage and benefit from their own energy”.

Nawal Al-Hosany, permanent representative of the UAE to IRENA, continued the theme of innovation as the lifeblood running through the veins of the energy transition.

“Innovation becomes the spark, and collaboration becomes the fuel for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future,” she said.

And why is it important. She stressed that “climate change is no longer a distant threat: it is a lived reality. And yet within this challenge lies unprecedented opportunity. Innovation is not just desirable, it is essential. It’s our compass, our catalyst and our most powerful tool in shaping a world powered by clean energy.”

She said the surge of renewables in 2024 – 585 GW, accounting for more than 90% of new capacity according to IRENA data – was not just growth, “it is momentum”.

Innovate faster

“But we must go further: we must turn ambition into action and action into impact. And at scale and with urgency.”

She called on the energy sector to “innovate faster, act smarter, and most importantly, include everyone”.

She said the energy transition is “no longer limited to our ability to generate clean power, but by how swiftly, reliably and equitably we can deliver it where it’s needed most”.

She called for integrated energy systems that are not smart, “but just” and closed by stating: “The future is renewables; the future is intelligence; the future is ours to build together.”

Originally published on Enlit World.