25 Renewable Energy Leaders to Follow in 2024

In 2024, as the world intensifies its journey towards sustainable energy solutions, keeping an eye on the thought leaders and innovators in the renewable energy sector is more crucial than ever. Our compilation of “25 Renewable Energy Leaders to Follow in 2024” brings you closer to the individuals driving transformative changes in how we generate, consume, and think about energy. From pioneers in government policy and corporate strategies to ground-breaking researchers and CEOs leading major energy firms, these influencers are shaping a more sustainable future.

Here’s a closer look at some thought leaders in this field to follow his year for inspiration and insight into the evolving landscape of renewable energy.

Learn more about renewable energy here: “Top Sustainability and Renewable Energy Courses“

Dr. Ursula von der Leyen

Dr. Ursula von der Leyen serves as the President of the European Commission, driving the European Green Deal. She is the first woman to hold this position. Before her role in the European Commission, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen held several significant positions in German politics. She served as Germany’s Minister of Defence from 2013 to 2019, becoming the first woman to hold that office. Her leadership has also been instrumental in navigating the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on economic recovery, public health measures, and vaccine distribution.

Robert Habeck

Robert Habeck is the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. He has been serving in this role since 2021 and is also the Vice Chancellor of Germany. Habeck is a member of the Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and has been actively involved in shaping Germany’s economic and environmental policies, particularly focusing on transitioning Germany towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly economy.

Martin Green

Martin Green, a Scientia Professor at UNSW, is recognized as the “father of photovoltaics” and was awarded the prestigious Global Energy Prize in 2018 for his transformative contributions to the development of solar energy technology. His innovation has been pivotal in reducing the costs of solar panels and making solar energy more accessible worldwide — providing a more sustainable and affordable alternative to fossil fuels.

Henrik Stiesdal

Henrik Stiesdal is a pioneer in the wind energy sector and former Chief Technology Officer at Siemens Wind Power. One of his notable contributions is the development of the first offshore wind farm, Vindeby, in 1991. His work has emphasized the importance of incremental growth and understanding the supply chain’s capabilities to ensure the successful scaling of turbine sizes

Francesco La Camera

Francesco La Camera is the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). With over thirty years of experience in climate, sustainability, and international cooperation, La Camera has played a significant role in advancing global renewable energy initiatives. Under his leadership, IRENA has focused on promoting urgent and targeted action for renewable energy, fostering unparalleled international cooperation and continuous innovation. La Camera is committed to building a new energy system based on renewable sources, emphasizing the need for innovative international cooperation to achieve global climate.

Fatih Birol

Fatih Birol is the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and a leading global authority on energy economics and policy. His work focuses on energy security, economic development, and environmental sustainability, shaping international energy strategies and policies.

Nigel Topping, CMG

Nigel Topping is a Senior Advisor to FSD Africa and a Global Ambassador to the High-Level Climate Champions. Topping is also an External Member of the Advisory Committee for AXA IM. His commitment to fostering sustainable practices and policies extends to his position as a non-executive director at the UK Infrastructure Bank and his academic contributions as an Honorary Professor of Economics at Exeter University.

He is a board member of the ICE Benchmark Administration, where he contributes his expertise to enhance environmental market solutions and governance.

Jigar Shah

Jigar Shah is the Director of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he oversees significant loan authority in manufacturing, innovative project finance, and tribal energy. With over 25 years in clean energy, he has co-founded Generate Capital, SunEdison, and the Carbon War Room, and is the author of Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy.

Mark Z. Jacobson

Mark Z. Jacobson is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, known for his advocacy of transitioning to 100% renewable energy. His research focuses on renewable energy systems and sustainable solutions to combat climate change and improve air quality.

Philipp Schröder

Philipp Schröder is currently the CEO and founder of 1KOMMA5°, a company that specializes in integrating renewable energy solutions for private households, including solar systems and heat pumps. Schröder has a background in leading cleantech companies, having previously served as the Country Director for Tesla in Germany and Austria, and as the managing director of sonnen, a solar energy storage firm. At 1KOMMA5°, he is focusing on advancing clean energy technologies to promote sustainable living.

Katharine Hayhoe

Katherine Hayhoe is a climate scientist and professor at Texas Tech University, known for her research on climate change impacts and communication. She is a prominent advocate for climate action and has received recognition for her efforts to bridge the gap between science and public understanding.

Volker Quaschning

Volker Quaschning is a Professor of Regenerative Energy Systems at the University of Applied Sciences (HTW) Berlin, where he has been teaching since 2004. He is recognized as an expert in renewable energy and climate protection and has written several influential books on these topics. His work extends beyond academia into public advocacy, as he actively promotes energy transition and sustainable energy practices both in Germany and globally. Quaschning also engages with a wide audience through his YouTube channel and other social media platforms, where he discusses and educates on renewable energies and climate protection issues.

Lucas Joppa

Lucas Joppa serves as the Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft. In this role, he is responsible for leading the company’s sustainability strategy, focusing on areas such as carbon reduction, water use, waste management, and the broader implementation of sustainable practices across Microsoft’s global operations. His work emphasizes the integration of technology and environmental science to address critical sustainability challenges.

Bruno Burger

Bruno Burger is a prominent figure in the field of renewable energy research. He is a Senior Scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, located in Freiburg, Germany, where he specializes in Power Electronics, Grids, and Smart Systems. Additionally, he is an Honorary Professor at the Electrotechnical Institute of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Burger is particularly noted for his work with the Energy Charts, a platform he oversees at Fraunhofer ISE, which provides detailed data on energy generation, particularly focusing on the transition to renewable energy sources in Germany

Kate Brandt

Kate Brandt serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer at Google, where she leads the company’s sustainability initiatives across its global operations, products, and supply chain. She joined Google in 2015 and was promoted to her current role in 2018. Brandt’s work focuses on integrating sustainable practices into Google’s data centers, real estate, and product teams to ensure the company’s operations contribute to its sustainability goals.

Peggy Liu

Peggy Liu is currently the Chairperson of JUCCCE (Joint US-China Collaboration on Clean Energy), a non-governmental organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable energy solutions in China. She is recognized globally for her contributions to environmental initiatives, particularly in accelerating China’s transition to clean energy and sustainable urban development. Liu’s work involves engaging multi-sector stakeholders, including policy, business, and academic leaders, to foster collaborative efforts toward significant environmental improvements.

Tzeporah Berman

Tzeporah Berman is an environmental activist and author, known for her work on climate change, sustainable energy, and environmental justice. She is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Stand.earth and has been a leading voice in advocating for stronger environmental protections and policies.

Markus Krebber

Markus Krebber is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RWE AG, a leading energy company in Europe. He has held this position since May 2021, after serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 2016 to 2021. Krebber has been instrumental in steering RWE’s strategic shift towards renewable energy, overseeing significant investments in green technologies as part of the company’s “Growing Green” strategy.

Julia Pyper

Julia Pyper is a Senior Editor at Greentech Media, where she covers issues related to the energy transition. Additionally, she is the host and producer of the “Political Climate” podcast, which delves into discussions on climate policy and energy trends. Alongside her media roles, Pyper is also the Vice President of Public Affairs at GoodLeap, a financial technology company focused on promoting sustainable home solutions.

Isha Datar

Isha Datar is the Executive Director of New Harvest, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing cellular agriculture. This field focuses on growing foods like meat, milk, and eggs from cells instead of animals. Datar has been a pioneer in this area, contributing significantly to the dialogue and development of lab-grown meat and other products through cellular agriculture.

Kai Buntrock

Kai Buntrock is the CEO of Autarq GmbH, a company specializing in the integration of solar technology with architectural design, particularly through building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Buntrock brings over 15 years of senior management experience to his role, overseeing Autarq’s strategy, sales, marketing, finance, legal matters, human resources, and IT. His leadership is integral to Autarq’s mission to revolutionize the use of solar energy in building materials, enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of solar installations.

Tor Valenza

Tor Valenza, also known as “Solar Fred,” is a prominent advocate for solar energy and clean technology. With a background in entertainment and marketing, he has become a key voice in promoting renewable energy solutions through engaging content and industry insights.

Alex Gilbert

Alex Gilbert is a complex systems expert focusing on nuclear innovation, space mining, energy markets, and environmental law, currently serving as Director of Space & Planetary Regulation at Zeno Power. He is also a PhD candidate in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines and an Adjunct Faculty member at Johns Hopkins University.

Marika Lulay

Marika Lulay is currently the CEO of GFT Technologies SE. She has held this position since June 2017, but she is set to step down at the end of her contract on December 31, 2024. During her tenure, Lulay has played a crucial role in guiding GFT Technologies through significant strategic and operational transformations.

André Kremer

André Kremer is currently involved with SENS, formerly known as STEAG Solar Energy Solutions GmbH, now operating as part of the growth and future business Iqony under the name Iqony Solar Energy Solutions GmbH. He is associated with the company’s initiative to promote further growth and expansion.