Green Energy Innovation
The Challenge
The energy sector is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for more than 70% of the world’s total. To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the world must triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 — a race against time that demands both innovation and speed.
The transition is underway, but the challenge is making it fast, fair, and universal —. This is where the world’s most promising green energy solutions come in: ready to scale, ready to transform, and ready to power a sustainable future.
Giorgia Vicari
The 5 Blocks
Here are the seven key areas shaping the green energy transition
1. Wind Power
Wind already supplies more than 8% of global electricity and remains one of the fastest-growing renewables. Onshore turbines are still the backbone of wind energy, with innovations in repowering (replacing old turbines with fewer, more efficient ones) and smarter siting driving growth. The real frontier is in making wind power smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable both on land and at sea
Who’s showing the way:
- Ørsted (Denmark) — Global leader in offshore projects, now working on sustainability standards.
- Vestas (Denmark) — Major turbine maker, driving digital optimization and repowering.
- Siemens Gamesa (Spain/Germany) — Pioneer of recyclable blades and offshore innovation.
- Goldwind (China) — Expanding onshore and hybrid projects worldwide.
- GE Vernova (US) — Developer of some of the world’s most powerful turbines.
2. Solar Innovation
Solar is the fastest-growing renewable energy source, generating nearly 7% of global electricity. The next frontier isn’t just about making panels more powerful or adaptable — it’s making them circular. Millions of solar panels will reach end-of-life in the coming decades, and without effective recycling they could become a serious waste problem.
That’s why innovation now focuses both on efficiency — with technologies like tandem cells and BIPV — and on designing panels that are easier to recycle and reuse, ensuring solar remains truly sustainable.
Who’s showing the way:
- SOLARCYCLE (US) — Advanced solar panel recycling, up to 95% material recovery.
- ERI (US) — Large-scale recycler turning solar waste into new supply chains.
- PILATUS Project (EU) — Developing panels designed for disassembly and circularity.
- FuturaSun (Italy) — SME with high-performance, design-friendly modules.
- Dyaqua (Italy) — Maker of invisible solar tiles for heritage sites.
3. Energy Storage & Grid Flexibility
Wind and solar are powerful — but they’re variable. To make renewable energy reliable, we need systems that can store power, move it intelligently, and cut unnecessary demand. This is the invisible backbone of the green transition: turning clean electricity into dependable energy for all.
What this includes:
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Energy Storage: From advanced batteries to long-duration solutions and second-life systems, storage ensures the lights stay on when the sun sets or the wind calms.
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Smart Grids & Digital Energy: AI, IoT, and virtual power plants create intelligent networks that balance supply and demand in real time, allowing clean energy to flow both ways — from utility to consumer, and from homes, EVs, and businesses back to the grid.
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Efficiency & Demand Management: The cleanest energy is the energy we don’t use. Smarter buildings, optimized industries, and demand-shifting technologies cut emissions immediately while lowering costs.
4. Green Hydrogen, Geothermal & Alternative Fuels
Where electricity alone isn’t enough, renewables can step in through green hydrogen, geothermal heat, and alternative fuels. Together they can replace fossil energy in heavy industry, transport, shipping, and even provide steady baseload power.
Who’s showing the way:
- Enapter (Italy/Germany) — Modular electrolyzers for hydrogen.
- Fortescue Future Industries (Australia) — Global-scale green hydrogen projects.
- H2Pro (Israel) — Low-cost electrolysis technology.
- Air Liquide (France) — Building international hydrogen infrastructure.
- Eavor (Canada/Germany) — Closed-loop geothermal technology scalable almost anywhere.
5. Off-Grid & Rural Energy Access
Nearly a billion people still lack reliable electricity. Decentralized renewables are the fastest path to clean, affordable energy for all.
Who’s showing the way:
- M-KOPA (Kenya) — Pay-as-you-go solar for households.
- SELCO Foundation (India) — Decentralized solar for underserved communities.
- Bboxx (UK/Africa) — Off-grid solar systems for rural areas.
Look for solutions here
Our Role
These innovations prove that a clean energy future is possible. The challenge now is to scale what works — across grids, industries, and communities.
At BIP, our mission is to accelerate this transition by giving visibility to the most impactful solutions, connecting innovators with funders and adopters, and building a global ecosystem of change.
Join Us
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For companies: Showcase your energy innovations on BIP.
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For cities & industries: Explore and adopt proven clean energy solutions.
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For everyone: Support the shift to a fair and sustainable energy system.
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