The Freiburg Energy Talks 2025 took place on 18 and 19 May 2025, co-organised by Fraunhofer ISE and ESYS – a joint initiative of acatech, Leopoldina and the Union of the Academies. The publication “Trends and Challenges of the Global Energy Transition: Insights of the Freiburg Energy Talks 2025” presents challenges and possible solutions in the fields of resilience, value creation, financing and social equity.
The green energy transition as a driver of energy security and economic value
A resilient energy system must be adaptive and flexible, just like an energy system based primarily on renewable energy sources. Resilience is thus not only an insurance against external shocks but offers the opportunity to promote both energy security and the energy transition. Resilience-related regulations should be based on an objective risk assessment and, where possible, contribute to international harmonisation.
Through international partnerships and cross-sectoral cooperation, the energy transition can also support and develop new global value chains. However, to turn innovative technological concepts into real-world business cases, cooperation between science, industry and the government is needed – both on a local and international level.
Transparent and fair approaches for financing and social challenges required
The implementation of the energy transition requires stable and predictable conditions. This includes infrastructures as well as a clear political commitment, which must also be reflected in public communication. Fair and market-based mechanisms, framed by legal instruments, and the establishment of lead markets can stimulate demand for climate-friendly products and secure the financing of the energy transition.
In addition, the energy transition’s social dimension should be considered: local conditions and cultural differences can limit the transferability of technical or communicative solutions and call for context-specific adaptions. Investments in clean energy are especially needed in developing countries – both to reduce dependence on fossil resources during industrialisation and to reduce geographical inequalities.