Building Adaptable Energy Systems in an Age of Rising Demand

By Rebecca Yap, EMA

Electricity demand is rising fast, projected to grow over 25 percent by 2030. To meet this challenge, Raphaël Barreau, Chief Investment Officer, Masdar, called for innovation and collaboration to futureproof global energy systems.

In his SIEW Summit Keynote, he emphasised that storage, digital intelligence, and flexible design will be critical to building adaptable energy systems. These capabilities, he noted, will be needed to meet demand sustainably while keeping power reliable and resilient.

Rising demand is reshaping energy systems

Rapid digitalisation is intensifying global energy demand. Artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre growth are also amplifying this trend, with electricity use projected to double by 2030.

Meeting this growth sustainably will require systems that are reliable, efficient, and low-carbon. Energy storage and smarter grids are emerging as essential to keep supply secure as needs evolve.

Innovation is shaping the future of energy

Masdar's Round-the-Clock (RTC) project in Abu Dhabi shows how renewables can now deliver power continuously. The 5.2 gigawatts (GW) solar and 19 gigawatt-hours (GWh) storage facility is the first gigawatt-scale renewable plant to deliver clean power continuously.

Mr Barreau said the initiative is more than a technical achievement. It is a blueprint for overcoming intermittency, a crucial step for sectors like AI, advanced industries, and data centres.

Adaptability and collaboration drive success

Regional innovation is redefining what renewable energy can achieve. Indonesia's Carita floating solar project uses water surfaces to generate power, conserve land, and reduce evaporation.

That said, Mr Barreau stressed that success depends as much on partnerships as on technology. "Projects don’t succeed simply because the technology is right. They succeed because the partnership model is right."

As global energy needs accelerate, the priority is to build systems that are adaptable, intelligent, and resilient. The work underway today will define how reliably the world powers tomorrow.

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