In 2024, because the world intensifies its journey in the direction of sustainable power options, maintaining a tally of the thought leaders and innovators within the renewable power sector is extra essential than ever. Our compilation of “25 Renewable Energy Leaders to Follow in 2024” brings you nearer to the people driving transformative adjustments in how we generate, eat, and take into consideration power. From pioneers in authorities coverage and company methods to ground-breaking researchers and CEOs main main power companies, these influencers are shaping a extra sustainable future.
Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at some thought leaders on this discipline to observe his yr for inspiration and perception into the evolving panorama of renewable power.
Study extra about renewable power right here: “Prime Sustainability and Renewable Power Programs“
Dr. Ursula von der Leyen serves because the President of the European Fee, driving the European Inexperienced Deal. She is the primary lady to carry this place. Earlier than her function within the European Fee, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen held a number of vital positions in German politics. She served as Germany’s Minister of Defence from 2013 to 2019, changing into the primary lady to carry that workplace. Her management has additionally been instrumental in navigating the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, specializing in financial restoration, public well being measures, and vaccine distribution.
Robert Habeck is the German Federal Minister for Financial Affairs and Local weather Motion. He has been serving on this function since 2021 and can be the Vice Chancellor of Germany. Habeck is a member of the Inexperienced Social gathering (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and has been actively concerned in shaping Germany’s financial and environmental insurance policies, significantly specializing in transitioning Germany in the direction of a extra sustainable and eco-friendly economic system.
Martin Inexperienced, a Scientia Professor at UNSW, is acknowledged because the “father of photovoltaics” and was awarded the distinguished International Power Prize in 2018 for his transformative contributions to the event of photo voltaic power know-how. His innovation has been pivotal in lowering the prices of photo voltaic panels and making photo voltaic power extra accessible worldwide — offering a extra sustainable and reasonably priced different to fossil fuels.
Henrik Stiesdal is a pioneer within the wind power sector and former Chief Know-how Officer at Siemens Wind Energy. Certainly one of his notable contributions is the event of the primary offshore wind farm, Vindeby, in 1991. His work has emphasised the significance of incremental development and understanding the availability chain’s capabilities to make sure the profitable scaling of turbine sizes
Francesco La Digital camera is the Director-Basic of the Worldwide Renewable Power Company (IRENA). With over thirty years of expertise in local weather, sustainability, and worldwide cooperation, La Digital camera has performed a big function in advancing international renewable power initiatives. Beneath his management, IRENA has centered on selling pressing and focused motion for renewable power, fostering unparalleled worldwide cooperation and steady innovation. La Digital camera is dedicated to constructing a brand new power system based mostly on renewable sources, emphasizing the necessity for revolutionary worldwide cooperation to realize international local weather.
Fatih Birol is the Government Director of the Worldwide Power Company (IEA) and a number one international authority on power economics and coverage. His work focuses on power safety, financial growth, and environmental sustainability, shaping worldwide power methods and insurance policies.
Nigel Topping is a Senior Advisor to FSD Africa and a International Ambassador to the Excessive-Degree Local weather Champions. Topping can be an Exterior Member of the Advisory Committee for AXA IM. His dedication to fostering sustainable practices and insurance policies extends to his place as a non-executive director on the UK Infrastructure Financial institution and his tutorial contributions as an Honorary Professor of Economics at Exeter College.
He’s a board member of the ICE Benchmark Administration, the place he contributes his experience to reinforce environmental market options and governance.
Jigar Shah is the Director of the Mortgage Applications Workplace on the U.S. Division of Power, the place he oversees vital mortgage authority in manufacturing, revolutionary undertaking finance, and tribal power. With over 25 years in clear power, he has co-founded Generate Capital, SunEdison, and the Carbon Warfare Room, and is the creator of Creating Local weather Wealth: Unlocking the Influence Economic system.
Mark Z. Jacobson is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford College, identified for his advocacy of transitioning to 100% renewable power. His analysis focuses on renewable power techniques and sustainable options to fight local weather change and enhance air high quality.
Philipp Schröder is presently the CEO and founding father of 1KOMMA5°, an organization that makes a speciality of integrating renewable power options for personal households, together with photo voltaic techniques and warmth pumps. Schröder has a background in main cleantech firms, having beforehand served because the Nation Director for Tesla in Germany and Austria, and because the managing director of sonnen, a photo voltaic power storage agency. At 1KOMMA5°, he’s specializing in advancing clear power applied sciences to advertise sustainable residing.
Katherine Hayhoe is a local weather scientist and professor at Texas Tech College, identified for her analysis on local weather change impacts and communication. She is a outstanding advocate for local weather motion and has obtained recognition for her efforts to bridge the hole between science and public understanding.
Volker Quaschning is a Professor of Regenerative Power Techniques on the College of Utilized Sciences (HTW) Berlin, the place he has been instructing since 2004. He’s acknowledged as an knowledgeable in renewable power and local weather safety and has written a number of influential books on these matters. His work extends past academia into public advocacy, as he actively promotes power transition and sustainable power practices each in Germany and globally. Quaschning additionally engages with a large viewers by way of his YouTube channel and different social media platforms, the place he discusses and educates on renewable energies and local weather safety points.
Lucas Joppa serves because the Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft. On this function, he’s chargeable for main the corporate’s sustainability technique, specializing in areas similar to carbon discount, water use, waste administration, and the broader implementation of sustainable practices throughout Microsoft’s international operations. His work emphasizes the combination of know-how and environmental science to deal with important sustainability challenges.
Bruno Burger is a outstanding determine within the discipline of renewable power analysis. He’s a Senior Scientist on the Fraunhofer Institute for Photo voltaic Power Techniques ISE, positioned in Freiburg, Germany, the place he makes a speciality of Energy Electronics, Grids, and Sensible Techniques. Moreover, he’s an Honorary Professor on the Electrotechnical Institute of the Karlsruhe Institute of Know-how (KIT). Burger is especially famous for his work with the Power Charts, a platform he oversees at Fraunhofer ISE, which gives detailed knowledge on power technology, significantly specializing in the transition to renewable power sources in Germany
Kate Brandt serves because the Chief Sustainability Officer at Google, the place she leads the corporate’s sustainability initiatives throughout its international operations, merchandise, and provide chain. She joined Google in 2015 and was promoted to her present function in 2018. Brandt’s work focuses on integrating sustainable practices into Google’s knowledge facilities, actual property, and product groups to make sure the corporate’s operations contribute to its sustainability targets.
Peggy Liu is presently the Chairperson of JUCCCE (Joint US-China Collaboration on Clear Power), a non-governmental group on the forefront of selling sustainable power options in China. She is acknowledged globally for her contributions to environmental initiatives, significantly in accelerating China’s transition to scrub power and sustainable city growth. Liu’s work entails participating multi-sector stakeholders, together with coverage, enterprise, and tutorial leaders, to foster collaborative efforts towards vital environmental enhancements.
Tzeporah Berman is an environmental activist and creator, identified for her work on local weather change, sustainable power, and environmental justice. She is the co-founder of the non-profit group Stand.earth and has been a number one voice in advocating for stronger environmental protections and insurance policies.
Markus Krebber is the Chief Government Officer (CEO) of RWE AG, a number one power firm in Europe. He has held this place since Might 2021, after serving as the corporate’s Chief Monetary Officer (CFO) from 2016 to 2021. Krebber has been instrumental in steering RWE’s strategic shift in the direction of renewable power, overseeing vital investments in inexperienced applied sciences as a part of the corporate’s “Growing Green” technique.
Julia Pyper is a Senior Editor at Greentech Media, the place she covers points associated to the power transition. Moreover, she is the host and producer of the “Political Climate” podcast, which delves into discussions on local weather coverage and power traits. Alongside her media roles, Pyper can be the Vice President of Public Affairs at GoodLeap, a monetary know-how firm centered on selling sustainable dwelling options.
Isha Datar is the Government Director of New Harvest, a non-profit group devoted to advancing mobile agriculture. This discipline focuses on rising meals like meat, milk, and eggs from cells as an alternative of animals. Datar has been a pioneer on this space, contributing considerably to the dialogue and growth of lab-grown meat and different merchandise by way of mobile agriculture.
Kai Buntrock is the CEO of Autarq GmbH, an organization specializing within the integration of photo voltaic know-how with architectural design, significantly by way of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Buntrock brings over 15 years of senior administration expertise to his function, overseeing Autarq’s technique, gross sales, advertising and marketing, finance, authorized issues, human sources, and IT. His management is integral to Autarq’s mission to revolutionize the usage of photo voltaic power in constructing supplies, enhancing each the aesthetics and performance of photo voltaic installations.
Tor Valenza, also referred to as “Solar Fred,” is a outstanding advocate for photo voltaic power and clear know-how. With a background in leisure and advertising and marketing, he has change into a key voice in selling renewable power options by way of participating content material and business insights.
Alex Gilbert is a fancy techniques knowledgeable specializing in nuclear innovation, area mining, power markets, and environmental legislation, presently serving as Director of Area & Planetary Regulation at Zeno Energy. He’s additionally a PhD candidate in Area Assets on the Colorado College of Mines and an Adjunct College member at Johns Hopkins College.
Marika Lulay is presently the CEO of GFT Applied sciences SE. She has held this place since June 2017, however she is about to step down on the finish of her contract on December 31, 2024. Throughout her tenure, Lulay has performed an important function in guiding GFT Applied sciences by way of vital strategic and operational transformations.
André Kremer is presently concerned with SENS, previously referred to as STEAG Photo voltaic Power Options GmbH, now working as a part of the expansion and future enterprise Iqony beneath the identify Iqony Photo voltaic Power Options GmbH. He’s related to the corporate’s initiative to advertise additional development and enlargement.