Innovation In Energy Solutions

We’ve called efficiency the unsung hero of the energy transition in the past. While the energy transition will happen first through the transition of energy usages, like the shift with transport, from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, or from fuel or gas boilers to heat pumps, we cannot ignore the utmost priority of the energy transition: efficiency. Efficiency is the greatest path to reduce our energy use, our impact on the world’s climate through CO2 emission reduction, and very importantly, the best way to make solid and practical savings. In its most historical form, energy efficiency is about better insulation, to reduce heating (or cooling) loss in buildings like family homes, warehouses, office high rises, and shopping malls. This is useful, but expensive and tedious to realize on existing installations. Digitizing home, buildings, industries and infrastructure brings similar benefits at a much lower cost and a much higher economic return. The combination of IoT, big data, software and AI can significantly reduce energy use and waste by detecting leaky valves, or automatically adjusting heating, lighting, processes and other systems to the number of people present at any given time, using real-time data analysis. It also allows owners to measure precisely progress, report automatically on their energy and sustainability parameters, and benefit from new services through smart grid interaction. And this is just the energy benefit. Automation and digital tools also optimize the processes, safety, reliability, and uptime leading to greater productivity and performance.

NEW RESEARCH - WHY THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS DISRUPTIVE & COULD BE MUCH FASTER THAN WE THINK: The clean energy transition isn’t just about swapping out old tech for new—it’s a complex, non-linear process full of feedback loops, tipping points, and unexpected consequences. Our new “Systems Archetypes of the Energy Transition” brief is a must-read for anyone shaping policy, investing, or innovating in this space. Key takeaways: 1) Feedback loops drive change: Reinforcing loops (like learning-by-doing and economies of scale) have made solar, wind, and batteries cheaper and more widespread, often outpacing even the boldest forecasts. 2) Path dependence is real: Early advantages for a technology (think BEVs vs. hydrogen cars) can snowball into market dominance, making policy choices and timing critical. 3) Limits and synergies: As renewables grow, market dynamics like “cannibalisation” can dampen investment—unless we design markets and storage solutions to keep the momentum going. 4) Policy design is everything: Well-intentioned fixes (like price caps or broad subsidies) can backfire, while smart, targeted interventions can unlock positive feedbacks across sectors. 5) Tipping points and decline: The decline of fossil fuels isn’t just a mirror image of clean tech growth—it comes with its own feedbacks, risks, and opportunities for a just transition. The brief also offers practical guidance on using causal loop diagrams and participatory systems mapping—powerful tools for understanding and managing the complexity of the transition. If you’re working on energy, climate, or innovation policy, I highly recommend giving this a read. Let’s move beyond linear thinking and embrace the systems view—because the future will be shaped by those who understand the dynamics beneath the surface. This briefing was led by Simon Sharpe at S-Curve Economics CIC, Max Collett 柯墨, Pete Barbrook-Johnson, me at Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford & Oriel College, Oxford & the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Michael Grubb at UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources.

Japan’s latest solar innovation focuses on integrating energy generation directly into everyday building materials, allowing windows themselves to produce electricity without changing how they look or function. The technology works by capturing ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths of sunlight while allowing visible light to pass through, which means buildings can still receive natural daylight while quietly generating clean energy. Researchers and companies such as inQs are developing these transparent photovoltaic systems with efficiency levels already approaching 10%, and engineers are aiming to push this closer to 15% as the materials improve. Urban planners see enormous potential in dense cities where rooftop space for solar panels is limited, since covering skyscraper windows with power-producing glass could dramatically increase renewable energy generation. Architects and sustainability experts believe solar-integrated building facades could become a major component of future carbon-neutral cities, turning millions of square meters of unused glass into decentralized energy infrastructure. #SolarInnovation #CleanEnergyFuture #GreenTechnology #RenewableEnergy #SustainableCities #SolarWindows

The future of energy will be defined by how effectively we integrate intelligence into our systems. In my conversation with Al-Ittihad newspaper, I spoke about how AI, digital twins and advanced grid technologies are enabling Abu Dhabi to lead in building smarter, more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. These innovations are not just optimizing operations; they are shaping a decentralized, decarbonized and digitalized energy ecosystem aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision. At Schneider Electric, we are driving this global transformation by helping governments, industries, and communities unlock the full potential of their energy systems and deliver impact at scale for a sustainable and connected future. Explore the full article for insights on building smarter energy systems. #AI #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #NetZero

EV charging economics are not one national story. This map converts residential EV charging costs into a gasoline-equivalent price by state. The comparison uses a Hyundai Ioniq 6 against a Hyundai Elantra, so it is not meant to cover every vehicle. But it does show how much local electricity prices change the math. Louisiana is the lowest at about $1.07 per gallon-equivalent. Washington, Idaho, Utah, Missouri, and Nebraska are also close to the low end. California is much higher at about $2.92. Maine is around $2.55. New York is around $2.34. Hawaii is the highest at about $3.45. Even with that spread, most states are still well below current gasoline prices on a per-mile basis. That is the part that makes EV charging economics so different from gasoline. Electricity is local, regulated, and shaped by generation mix, grid costs, utility rates, and policy. The same EV can have a very different operating cost depending on where it charges. For larger loads, the same principle applies even more strongly. Average electricity price is only the starting point. Rate structure, demand charges, peak exposure, interconnection capacity, and local grid constraints are what decide the real economics. Electrification is not just about the equipment. It is about the electricity system behind it. #ElectricityMarkets #Electrification #EnergyCosts #PowerGrid #EVCharging #BXEnergySystems

Read the #patterns: Drill-Baby-Drill only works if Pushers can Sell-Baby-Sell; pushing policies which force dependency form other countries. Beyond the short-term news cycle of Minerals Deals, there's a longer term grand #strategy risk to understand if any company or country wants to engage seriously. ☀️ #Renewable energy plus #storage is the vaccine from that dependency, hence the obsession by the pushers to talk them down. 🚧 Another key way to block renewable energy independence is to corner the market in critical / rare earth materials. Whether or not they're used, it can block other countries from the resources needed for energy transition, hence protecting dependency. The strategy is the flip side of extractive business models - previously taking from countries by force, now forcibly keeping countries out. ❓ So what to do? 💡 One key pillar of strategy is to #design out dependency. Both by full circularity within (re)manufacture processes, and by material innovations that design out dependencies on rare earth. There's already huge breakthroughs - halide perovskites in solar energy, EV's designing out cobalt and nickel. Matnex (a company I invest in) developed a magnet for batteries without rare earth metals in 3 months using AI. Renewable energy supply chain sustainability/innovation should be a high priority given the geopolitics today. An exercise I have run for many students at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) simulates a decision for #developers / #investors on renewable energy avoiding harmful extractive practices (both social and environmental) compared to cheaper alternatives. It's the pinch-point for #Competitive #Sustainability - often relying on sector-wide collaboration, positive policy engagement and proactive sustainability leadership. These factors are also all 'under attack' right now by those pushing dependency alongside legal challenges that undermine fair competition by reclassifying pollution as clean. The opposite of extractivist logic is not merely 'do no harm', it is about actively creating the conditions for all to prosper in a sustainable regenerative world. Transforming win-lose into live-live. I read recently (h/t to whoever claims this quote) that the business case for a regenerative economy is #Life. Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) NOW Partners Foundation Volans Kees Vendrik Itske Lulof Ian Ellison Dr Victoria Hurth Kirsten Wright John Holm Indy Johar Hans Stegeman Dr Raj T. Gillian Marcelle, PhD Delilah Rothenberg Frank Van Gansbeke Dr. Hubert Danso William Hynes John Fullerton Sue Reid Campanale Nili Gilbert, CFA, CAIA Lengyel David Carlin Climate Safe Lending Network United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Duncan Austin Image by <a href="https://lnkd.in/etd2idGF">Enrique</a> from Pixabay

I just spent three days at PowerGen 2026 in San Antonio, and what I witnessed confirms a fundamental restructuring of how America delivers power to critical infrastructure. The numbers are staggering: * Columbus, Ohio data centers now face 84-month (7-year) grid interconnection timelines. * Silicon Valley and Sacramento: 72 months. * Even the best markets like Pittsburgh still need 36 months minimum. Meanwhile, behind-the-meter fuel cells deploy in 16-18 months. Reciprocating engines: 24-30 months. The timeline gap isn't measured in weeks—it's measured in years of lost revenue. Here's what's driving the shift: • 2,290 GW of generation sitting in interconnection queues—nearly twice the entire installed U.S. power plant capacity (1,320 GW) • PJM capacity charges jumped from $28.92/MW-day to $329.17/MW-day in just two years—that's $12M annually for a 100 MW data center • Data center operators compete in 12-18 month deployment cycles. A 5-7 year power delivery delay isn't a bottleneck—it's a deal-killer. The implications are profound: When Meta builds 400 MW of dedicated natural gas generation that never touches the grid, when Caterpillar Inc. books a 4,000 MW order for a single Utah facility, when EdgeConneX plans fully off-grid data centers in Ohio—we're not seeing temporary workarounds. We're witnessing structural shift. The paradox is striking: Columbus has the WORST grid access in the nation (84 months), yet it's attracting massive behind-the-meter investment precisely because grid delivery is so unreliable that developers stop considering it entirely. This article synthesizes POWERGEN 2026 intelligence with economic modeling showing when BTM beats grid costs, technology landscape analysis across fuel cells to SMRs, and the strategic implications for every stakeholder from hyperscalers to utilities to equipment vendors. Full analysis: https://lnkd.in/gwHah37y What's your take on the BTM shift? Are utilities adapting fast enough, or is grid defection the inevitable path forward? P.S. - If you're tracking the BTM shift, I publish deep-dive analysis on energy infrastructure every week. Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/gejA2brP #DataCenters #EnergyTransition #GridModernization

The World Economic Forum'S 2025 Energy Transition Index shows clear progress: the pace of transition has more than doubled in recent years. But behind the headline lies a deeper challenge—our #energy systems are still fragile, strained by rising geopolitical and economic headwinds. Sustained, accelerated #reinvention is no longer optional. To deliver energy systems that are cleaner and more resilient, we must shift from incremental change to system-level transformation. In our latest collaboration, Roberto Bocca and I lay out five strategic actions to help leaders build the adaptive, future-ready energy systems the world needs now: 1. Adopt stable, adaptive policy frameworks that support long-term investment and cross-sector collaboration  2. Modernize infrastructure—especially grids and storage—to improve reliability and integration  3. Invest in skilled talent to unlock innovation and boost delivery capacity  4. Accelerate clean tech commercialization, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors  5. Boost capital flows to developing economies, where energy transitions must be inclusive and equitable The future of energy isn’t just about being clean—it’s about being competitive, inclusive, and shock-resistant. We believe the path forward starts with coordinated action, pragmatic policy, and bold investment. Because resilient energy systems aren't just a climate goal—they’re the backbone of global economic security. Read the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/gSAZ2XNg #ETI25 #EnergyTransition #Reinvention #EnergyResilience Dr. Britta Daum Espen Mehlum David Rabley Stephanie Jamison John Downie Ashwini R.

The most important battery in an Indian factory may not store electricity. It may store heat. That is one of the more underappreciated takeaways I had from our report on India's Industrial Energy Transition Opportunity, co-authored by TDK Ventures and Theia Ventures. When investors talk about energy storage, we usually talk about storing electrons. But many factories do not only need electricity. They need reliable heat. For drying, boiling, pasteurizing, curing, distilling, reacting, evaporating, and sterilizing. A chemical process cares whether the right heat arrives at the right temperature, at the right time, without disrupting production. That is why thermal batteries are so interesting. They charge on off-peak renewable electricity and discharge heat directly into industrial processes. But the moat is not just storing heat. The report highlights several winning characteristics: ✔️ Stable discharge temperature through thermocline design or phase change materials ✔️ Smart dispatch software that optimizes against renewable forecasts, tariffs, and production schedules ✔️ Heat-as-a-Service to remove the customer’s capex barrier ✔️ Strong execution and project management for site-specific industrial integration This is why India is such a powerful proving ground. India has dense industrial clusters, process heat demand, growing renewable supply, capex-sensitive buyers, and a strong need to reduce fossil-fuel dependence. A thermal battery startup that wins in India has to solve for: 🔹 Real industrial integration 🔹 Customer economics 🔹 Temperature stability 🔹 Plant-level trust 🔹 Financing friction 🔹 Reliable operations Those constraints are hard. But they are hard in the right ways. A solution that works in Indian factories can travel to Southeast Asia, the Gulf, Africa, Latin America, and other industrial markets that need affordable, reliable, lower-carbon process heat. Global VCs and CVCs should pay attention. Thermal batteries sit in a venture-relevant window: not fully commoditized infrastructure, but no longer pure science projects either. And CVCs can be especially useful here through customer access, manufacturing support, integration knowledge, reliability standards, and international pilots. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g2cE9VJk Thank you to Ravi Jain, Vasan Churchill, Shraya Sapru & our partners at Theia Ventures for the work behind this report.

India's Solar Gold Rush Isn't Just About Manufacturing. It's Creating Thousands of Local Businesses. When industries transform, the biggest fortunes aren't always built by manufacturing the product. They're built by solving the last-mile problem. India's rooftop solar revolution is creating a similar opportunity. While large companies invest thousands of crores into manufacturing solar modules, inverters, and batteries, an entirely different business is emerging across cities and towns, the local entrepreneurs who design, install, finance, and maintain rooftop solar systems. And this opportunity is far larger than many realize. ✅ A Market Growing Faster Than Most MSMEs Can Imagine 1. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has transformed rooftop solar from an aspirational purchase into a mainstream household investment. The scheme aims to solarize 1 crore homes, backed by a government allocation of over ₹75,000 crore. 2. At the same time, rooftop installations are accelerating at record pace as electricity tariffs continue to rise and homeowners look for long-term savings. For every solar panel manufactured, someone has to: • Survey the rooftop • Design the system • Handle DISCOM approvals • Install equipment • Commission net metering • Maintain the plant for the next 20–25 years ✅ Business Model Is Surprisingly Capital-Light A typical installer primarily invests in: • Technical tools and safety equipment • Electrical licences and certifications • Small working capital • Vendor relationships • Skilled installation teams ✅ Real Competitive Advantage Isn't Technology Most people assume success in solar depends on choosing better panels. In reality, execution is becoming the differentiator. The best installers win because they: • Complete site surveys quickly • Navigate DISCOM approvals efficiently • Handle subsidy documentation correctly • Deliver projects on time • Build trust through reliable after-sales support ✅ Let me share the #Rajspectives 1. Most installers focus only on selling rooftop systems. The smarter businesses focus on what comes after installation. 2. Every solar system requires periodic cleaning, inspections, inverter servicing, monitoring, and maintenance throughout its operating life. That creates a recurring revenue opportunity through AMCs. 3. Instead of earning only once from installation, installers can build predictable annual income while strengthening customer relationships and generating future referrals. Over time, maintenance can become as valuable as installation itself. India's clean-energy transition is creating thousands of local businesses. As solar hardware becomes commoditised, the companies that consistently win won't necessarily manufacture the panels. They'll be the ones that homeowners trust to install, maintain, and support them for decades. Sometimes, the biggest opportunity is becoming the business that makes the technology work. #energy #india #business #technology #solar #power