There’s no single fix for transforming the world’s energy systems, but combining the right innovations can get the job done. A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) maps out 40 technologies and strategies that policymakers can use to build stronger power grids, expand electricity access, and boost local economies, according to an IRENA announcement. The key is weaving together tech advances with smarter policies, regulations, market design, and business models.
IRENA released the Innovation Landscape for Sustainable Development Powered by Renewables during a ministerial meeting on artificial intelligence at its assembly in Abu Dhabi. The report covers everything from AI and digital tools to grid upgrades, off-grid solutions, and new ways of doing business. It argues that only a comprehensive approach can deliver reliable power, affordable energy, and a fair transition that doesn’t leave anyone behind.
“The question isn’t whether we can transform our energy system,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “It’s whether we will seize the moment to do it in a holistic way, leaving no one behind.”
Renewable energy is already the cheapest electricity source in most places. Combined with decentralized technologies, this puts universal power access within reach—especially for emerging markets and developing countries.
The report shows these innovations already work in real settings. In Tanzania, Kenya, Colombia, and Malaysia, local communities own and profit from renewable projects. Fifteen West African countries share renewable resources through regional power pools. Malaysia uses real-time weather monitoring to boost transmission capacity by 10 to 50 percent. Battery swapping stations in Uganda and Rwanda make electric vehicles affordable. Pay-as-you-go models brought electricity to over 500,000 people in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
IRENA groups the 40 innovations into four toolkits: grid modernization, decentralized solutions, inclusive local development, and energy access. The idea is to help governments pick what works for their specific technical, economic, and cultural situations. But action is needed everywhere—from international institutions and regional forums down to national governments and local communities.
