Disruptors in the energy space

The energy sector is at the cusp of a monumental shift driven by technological innovation and a growing imperative for sustainability. This shift towards sustainability will require intensive efforts across multiple fronts. The IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 Scenario forecasts that nuclear output will have to double, the energy supply from bioenergy will need to increase by almost threefold, and renewable energy supply will have to increase eightfold by 2050, predominantly from solar and wind, which will increase the need for long-term energy storage. Decarbonisation technologies will have to help us reduce annual emissions by roughly 40 Gt CO2 in tandem with other mitigation strategies, including electrification, improved energy efficiency, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, and direct air capture.¬1 The critical need for the development, deployment, and scaling of these technologies, therefore, is paramount, but what is the outlook on these breakthrough technologies, and do they have the potential to reshape today’s energy system towards a sustainable future?