Powering the future

“Drill, baby, drill.”

The words became an oft-repeated catchphrase for then-candidate Donald Trump during his presidential campaign, with a view to ramp up fossil fuel production in the US, deregulate the oil and gas sector, and rapidly approve new drilling, pipelines, refineries, power plants, and reactors. The promise from Trump to the American people was that this would “cut your energy prices in half within 12 months”.

Although an enticing pledge to those across the country struggling with the rising cost of living, Trump’s promise of an American fracking boom (whether or not it could actually come to fruition) has understandably sent alarm bells ringing in the ears of environmentalists in the US and beyond.

Now in office, Trump has signed a slew of executive orders that could have huge, negative implications for the planet – not least withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and declaring a “national energy emergency” to justify his plan to “drill, baby, drill.” Having previously promised to repeal Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which directed federal funding towards clean energy projects in the US, President Trump has now frozen the disbursement of IRA funds.

The future of clean energy

As expected, Trump’s initial days in office haven’t brought much comfort to those already deeply concerned about worsening climate change, especially in the wake of the devastating LA wildfires. But, as Laurence Tubiana , the European Climate Foundation chief executive and one of the key architects of the Paris Agreement, explains, there is reason to remain hopeful. “The US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement is unfortunate, but multilateral climate action has proven resilient and is stronger than any single country’s politics and policies,” says Tubiana. “Europe – alongside other partners – now has the responsibility and opportunity to step up and lead. By pushing forward with a fair and balanced transition, it can show that ambitious climate action protects people, strengthens economies, and builds resilience.”

Likewise, Co-director of The Johns Hopkins University ’s Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab Apratim (Tim) Sahay highlighted that “Cancelled green projects in the United States mean that other countries can invest and seize the investment opportunity to meet demand for clean technologies.” And where some governments and legislation fall short, innovators have the opportunity to step up – whether that’s in the US or beyond.

Last Sunday, the 26th of January, marked the International Day of Clean Energy, an opportunity to celebrate the groundbreaking innovations that are helping us steer away from polluting fossil fuels towards a cleaner, zero-emissions future. From technologies that help to supercharge existing renewable generation to revolutionary new ways of creating green power, we’ve compiled our five most-read clean energy innovation stories from 2025 so far. Take a look.

Top 5 clean energy innovations

Sensor systems for wind turbine blades

Wind energy is growing by leaps and bounds, but it still has a way to go to meet targets set in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario. To help, green tech company EOLOGIX-PING has developed a sensor system to increase turbine efficiency. The wireless and energy-autonomous sensors measure noise to detect potential issues on the surface of the turbine blades, automatically stopping and restarting the blades when safety issues have been spotted and resolved. Read more

A fungal battery that’s fed instead of charged

The fungi kingdom is vast, containing as many as?five million species or more – from edible mushrooms to disease-causing pathogens. Now, researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology ( Empa ) have used fungi to develop a microbial fuel cell that makes use of the way that microorganisms convert nutrients into energy. Read more

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Drones inspect green energy installations

Renewable energy installations, such as wind and solar, are growing rapidly. To make sure green energy assets are maintained in peak condition, SkyVisor is relying on the help of drone-based inspection software. By streamlining how inspection data is gathered, interpreted, and actioned, the AI-enabled platform enhances preventive maintenance efforts and helps companies to reduce downtime, saving money and boosting green energy generation. Read more

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Extracting cobalt from waste materials

Cobalt powers our modern lives and can be found in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles. But, this critical metal is often mined under unsafe and environmentally damaging conditions. Instead, researchers at the 美国宾夕法尼亚大学 have developed a novel, low-cost process to extract cobalt and nickel from waste materials, including discarded batteries and mining by-products. Read more

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AI climate models for a resilient renewable grid

Global energy grids are under strain, facing unprecedented challenges from volatile renewable energy sources, rising electrification demands, and the worsening impacts of climate change. Addressing this, US company Sunairio has developed an innovative platform that uses hi-res climate data and advanced AI to model energy asset risks with unparalleled precision, helping developers, energy traders, and grid operators navigate the complexities of modern power systems. Read more

Discover thousands more solutions in green energy and beyond now in the Springwise Innovation Database.