From energy crisis to energy transition: How renewables are reshaping energy security
The Middle East conflict has intensified calls for energy systems that are diverse, decentralised and locally controlled, with renewables now central to energy security strategies worldwide.
Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, told UN News that decades-old notions of energy security—rooted in fossil fuel reserves—are being replaced by systems built on renewables, which distribute control across many actors and locations. He traced this shift back to the 1970s oil shocks, when energy security first became a systemic concern, but noted that fossil fuel dependence remains vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions. Renewable energy, he argued, offers resilience through decentralisation, with countries like Spain and Norway demonstrating greater stability during the current crisis. The transition is now driven as much by energy security as by climate goals, marking a fundamental redefinition of what safeguards national and global energy systems.
Around 90 per cent of new power generation capacity added globally each year now comes from renewables, according to IRENA, with China surpassing coal-fired capacity with solar power for the first time in July. IRENA research indicates that renewables paired with storage can provide round-the-clock power—termed 'firm renewables'—at lower costs than gas or nuclear, addressing intermittency concerns. Electrification of buildings, transport and industry is identified as essential for decarbonisation, though demand growth and efficiency gaps risk widening supply-demand imbalances by 2030.
Economic competitiveness in the coming years will hinge on delivering green hydrogen ('molecules') and electricity ('electrons') at lower costs, with renewables already among the most competitive electricity sources. IRENA’s '35 by 35' goal aims to raise electricity’s share of final energy consumption to 35 per cent by 2035, a likely focus at COP31. La Camera warned that tripling renewable capacity by 2030 may not suffice to meet demand, underscoring the urgency of scaling up infrastructure and modernising grids.
La Camera emphasised that the most pressing action is improving grid interconnectivity, flexibility and balance, calling on multilateral financial institutions to prioritise grid modernisation and infrastructure financing, particularly for developing countries facing high costs and limited grid capacity.