The demand for renewable energy solutions has been high in the past few years, and it’s likely to keep increasing. Private and public investors support the research and development of renewable solutions. Indeed, 90% of the grid expansion last year came from solar and wind technologies.
Going Greener
Solar power grids led the way, growing by 88% in the same period. Unsurprisingly, large photovoltaic structures like those provided by mantierogroup.com have also been in high demand. Everybody knows wind and solar power as alternative options when it comes to renewable energy. However, cutting-edge technologies have made those options even better. Here are the most important trends in this industry for 2025.
Community Solar Projects
Community solar projects have been on the rise in Australia and the United States. Instead of installing solar panels in each household, community projects involve solar farms where large steel structures sustain countless panels, powering up the entire neighbourhood.
This kind of project makes solar energy more accessible to low-income families and renters who can’t install their own grid at home. Community projects are gaining government recognition and investments worldwide. The Big Apple already has its project, for instance, the New York State’s Shared Solar Initiative. Similar initiatives will likely double in number and size by 2028.
Decentralisation
Large energy distribution facilities have been losing ground lately, a trend that will likely remain. Meanwhile, energy-sharing solutions and microgrids managed by AI systems distribute energy at a local level. This approach prevents widespread failures that could come from a central system, affecting everybody at once.
Decentralised energy is the best solution for isolated areas and small communities. More importantly, those grids can be managed by the local community, reducing dependency on a central power grid. Industry specialists expect to see more decentralised solutions coming up in 2025.
Grid Integration
While renewable energy projects continue to rise, technical challenges arise, like the efficiency and stability of the power grid. Cutting-edge digital technologies such as big data analysis, AI, and IoT have been incredibly helpful in overcoming those challenges. They not only make the entire system more efficient but can also manage multiple intermittent sources.
Innovative renewable energy firms are already investing in predictive analysis and IoT to prevent system failures and reduce downtime. IoT sensors and AI-powered algorithms can monitor the system’s efficiency and output in real-time. Above all, those technologies improve the system’s reliability, which retains its efficiency even when supply and demand fluctuate.
Improved Storage Technologies
The output of renewable solutions like wind and solar power depends on the elements. If there’s little wind and little sun, there’ll also be little energy. In this context, batteries are components for storing energy when there’s a surplus to use in periods of low production.
That’s one reason there’s an industrial race to create more efficient batteries.
More importantly, efficient storage systems stabilise prices during peak times. Lithium-ion batteries currently lead the market, but flow batteries are also gaining traction. More countries have been investing in distributed storage systems for industrial plants and households.
The Rise of Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen has recently emerged as a green solution for many reasons. Unlike methane and other gases traditionally used for energy generation, burning hydrogen doesn’t generate CO2 emissions. Using hydrogen for heating can have a huge impact in cold countries. In the UK, for instance, natural gas as a fuel accounts for 37% of the emissions.
Hydrogen is also a promising solution for powering electric vehicles with the so-called “fuel cell.” In this context, the fuel cell has two main functions: powering the electric motor and recharging the battery. The process produces harmless water vapour.
Conclusion
While new green technologies emerge, the transition from fossil fuels depends largely on the widespread adoption of such technologies by governments, companies, and individuals. Community engagement is essential for locally-based solutions, calling for more green education initiatives to raise awareness.
The Paris Agreement has set 2050 as the deadline for reaching net-zero emissions. It means that every greener option helps towards this ambitious but necessary goal. Additionally, green energy has become a strategic asset in times of geopolitical uncertainty and volatility in the pricing of fossil fuels.
