Beyond Solar and Wind: The Next Frontier in Clean Energy
Clean power needs more than just generation—it needs integration.
The Foundation of Renewable Energy
Solar and wind have become the foundation of global renewable energy deployment, driven by falling costs and proven scalability. In 2023, solar alone accounted for over 75% of all new renewable capacity added globally (source: IEA). But as deployment grows, new challenges emerge around variability, grid stability, and sectoral integration.
Shifting Attention
Attention is shifting toward technologies that complement intermittent renewables. Long-duration storage is key: in California, over 50% of solar generation during the day can be curtailed without storage (source: CAISO). Green hydrogen is also gaining ground—global electrolyser capacity could reach 45 GW by 2030, up from just 1 GW in 2022 (source: IRENA).
Will it Scale
The next phase of the energy transition will likely focus on integrated systems that combine generation, flexibility, and use. Transparent solar cells, battery-backed microgrids, and grid-aware software are all part of that picture. Could the real frontier be not what's next, but how we bring what's already here together—at scale—in the real world?
