‘More than ambition’: 6 experts on what's needed to accelerate the global energy transition

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Energy transition: New energy solutions will help to accelerate the transition, as well as boosting security, reliability and resilience.

Image: Getty Images/BulentBARIS

Espen Mehlum
Head, Energy, World Economic Forum
Nicholas Wagner
Manager, Energy and Industry Transition Intelligence – Energy and Materials, World Economic Forum
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This article is part of: Centre for Energy and Materials
  • We asked 6 experts how to modernize energy infrastructure to balance demand and security, while also building resilience amid the energy transition.
  • Electricity infrastructure such as grids and battery storage must be modernized to accelerate the transition while ensuring energy security, system reliability and climate resilience.
  • The experts explained that this will require stable regulatory environments, credible investment pipelines and ecosystems capable of deploying scalable solutions where they are needed most.

Progress toward a secure, equitable and sustainable energy system is advancing, but momentum is at risk of stalling amid financing constraints and rising geopolitical uncertainty, according to the World Economic Forum’s Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2025 report.

The report, developed in collaboration with Accenture, presents a data-driven framework to assess how 118 countries are positioned to navigate a complex energy landscape. It evaluates both system performance – measured across sustainability, security and equity – and transition readiness, which includes enabling factors such as regulation, infrastructure, education, innovation and investment capacities.

This year’s results show modest gains, with progress driven by improved energy access and growing adoption of clean energy technologies. However, advancements in long-term enablers – particularly infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and capital investment – have slowed. These gaps signal ongoing vulnerabilities in energy system resilience and raise concerns about the ability to scale transition efforts in the years ahead.

Ambition alone is not enough to solve these challenges. Success will hinge on aligning ambition with delivery capability through stable regulatory environments, credible investment pipelines and ecosystems capable of deploying scalable solutions where they are needed most.

In this context, we asked a group of energy leaders how they are responding to the most urgent challenges – from reducing energy dependencies to modernizing systems – to accelerate the global energy transition. Here’s what they had to say:

Quentin Bchini, Head of Research, Enerdata

According to most long-term energy scenarios, electricity will play a key role in decarbonizing our energy systems. Global electricity demand is expected to double by 2050, with the majority of generation coming from intermittent renewable sources. Worldwide, power infrastructure will need to be developed, upgraded or expanded to accommodate higher volumes and a growing share of variable generation, at the expense of dispatchable power plants. This calls for extensive long-term investment and coordination, backed by a clear vision and regulatory framework.

Context matters. While advanced economies with existing large-scale transmission systems may focus on grid expansion and modernization, emerging economies might prioritize more decentralized, modular solutions such as microgrids and distributed storage.

Modernizing power infrastructure involves more than physical grid extension. Efforts must also target system integration to better balance and share supply–demand constraints. Europe’s integrated system offers a compelling example, currently sourcing almost 50% of its electricity from renewables. Storage technologies will be critical to absorb excess renewable output, and R&D should be actively supported to accelerate the deployment of mature, scalable solutions.

The answer lies not only on the supply side. Demand-side flexibility must be incentivized via smart appliances, dynamic pricing or demand response schemes. This will help maintain system balance.

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Lin Boqiang, Dean, China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy, Chair Professor, School of Management, Xiamen University

Against the backdrop of the low-carbon transition, new energy solutions will become the backbone of the future energy system. The development of this industry will require modern energy infrastructure. China is making efforts on several fronts to do this while balancing demand, security and resilience.

One key aspect is the development of economically viable energy storage systems. In China, storage is being integrated into both the spot and ancillary services markets. The country is also exploring a unified capacity leasing market, which would improve the commercial viability of storage facilities and accelerate industrial growth.

Second, China is rapidly advancing grid modernization. Intelligent power dispatch systems can coordinate renewable and conventional energy sources more efficiently. By optimizing grid architecture, enhancing digital capabilities, improving grid flexibility and strengthening cybersecurity, China is creating a more stable and responsive system.

Third, China recognizes that uneven distribution of electric vehicle charging infrastructure hinders widespread adoption. To support increasing electric vehicle penetration, it is expanding charging facilities to reach residential communities and remote areas alike.

Finally, it is reforming its modern, high-efficiency coal-fired power system to establish flexible backup resources to ensure grid reliability and electricity security. While supporting the integration of renewable energy, this also facilitates a smoother and more resilient transition toward a low-carbon energy system.

Arunabha Ghosh, Founder and CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

The world will witness two megatrends in pursuit of a net-zero emissions future: rapid end-use electrification and complete decarbonisation of power generation. Renewables also demand an equally ambitious modernization of the electricity grid, which is the backbone of energy delivery. This must involve four crucial actions.

First, countries should harness the enormous clean energy potential across borders. Cross-border interconnections and power trade can ensure energy security.

Secondly, countries must modernize their grid infrastructure with precision and foresight. Deployment of diverse storage technologies and smart inverters will enhance real-time monitoring, grid stability and renewable energy utilization. In India, for example, smart inverters are being used to manage grid voltages for more efficient operation.

Thirdly, markets must evolve to reflect the shifting physics of the grid. Regulators and market operators must enable time- and location-sensitive pricing, unlock ancillary services markets and develop hedging instruments to mitigate price volatility.

Finally, the edge of the grid must become the new centre of innovation. Grid-edge technologies – distributed solar with battery storage, smart meters, dynamic tariffs and demand response systems – can turn consumers into active participants in grid balancing.

Modernising energy infrastructure is not a singular engineering challenge. It is a systems transition that requires the convergence of technology, finance, regulation and diplomacy. The grid of the future must be clean, but equally smart, flexible and resilient.

Shashwat Goenka, Vice-Chairman, RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group

With rising variable renewable energy integration, flexibility must be embedded across the grid. This includes large-scale battery energy storage systems, pumped storage hydro and smart demand-side measures like automated demand response. A balanced and diversified generation mix – hybrid renewables, hydro, gas and nuclear – will also ensure capacity by reducing overdependence on any single source.

Reinforcing regional and cross-border transmission interconnections through high-voltage technologies and meshed networks expands balancing areas, reduces congestion and enhances resilience against extreme weather and physical threats. Grid hardening measures and infrastructure upgrades are key to adapting to climate volatility.

Digitalization further enables real-time system visibility and automation. Smart grid tools such as advanced metering and artificial intelligence-driven analytics support predictive maintenance and dynamic grid control. As digital exposure grows, cybersecurity measures will also protect critical assets. Together, these measures form the backbone of a secure, flexible and future-ready power system.

Effective regulation can catalyze sustainable energy infrastructure – as Germany’s long-term power purchase agreements and Singapore’s smart city policies have demonstrated. In India, the National Renewable Energy Policy and National Infrastructure Pipeline have attracted foreign investment and accelerated renewable energy deployment. Regional cooperation, such as the Southern African Power Pool, and targeted capacity-building efforts can also scale infrastructure development.

By aligning long-term policy stability with adaptability and regional collaboration, emerging economies can unlock sustainable growth and accelerate their clean energy transitions.

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David Rabley, Managing Director, Global Energy Transition Lead, Accenture

In emerging markets, attracting long-term capital for the energy transition will require more than ambition. Policy frameworks must provide investor clarity while remaining adaptable to local realities and technological change.

The most effective frameworks strike a balance between long-term certainty and short-term flexibility. They extend beyond political cycles, align with national strategies and allow for transparent, structured policy evolution.

Crucially, the public sector must lead from the front – absorbing early risk, co-investing in infrastructure and signaling enduring commitment to private investors. India’s green industrial strategy and Nigeria’s market-oriented energy reforms demonstrate that, even in the absence of perfect frameworks, targeted incentives and institutional reform can mobilize private capital.

These successes reflect key lessons. Public investment must be catalytic, especially in infrastructure, clean hydrogen and industrial decarbonization. Tools such as credit guarantees, concessional finance and transparent bidding processes help de-risk investment and accelerate private sector participation. Well-calibrated tax regimes and improved regulatory coordination also enhance investor confidence. And policy design that stretches beyond static targets to embed agility enables countries to respond to shocks while seizing emerging opportunities.

Stable, transparent and well-governed frameworks send a powerful signal to investors. They show that the enabling environment is credible, implementation is feasible and that the energy transition is not only possible, but investable.

Sumant Sinha, Chairman and CEO, ReNew, Co-Chair of the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders

To attract long-term capital and foster cooperation, countries must adopt policy frameworks that are both stable and adaptive.

Stability builds investor confidence by ensuring predictability in regulations, incentives and market signals. At the same time, adaptability allows policies to evolve alongside technological advances, global climate goals and shifting market dynamics.

India’s clean energy journey offers a compelling example. It has maintained consistent policy direction through clear renewable energy targets, transparent auctions and production-linked incentives. At the same time, it has adapted to new challenges with initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Institutional innovations like the Solar Energy Corporation of India have helped de-risk investments and coordinate across sectors.

These experiences show that emerging economies can create a policy environment that is predictable enough to attract capital, yet flexible enough to remain relevant. By combining long-term vision with responsive governance, other emerging economies can replicate India’s success in building resilient, cooperative and investment-friendly clean energy ecosystems.

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