The Future of Renewable Energy: 5 Major Insights from RE+ 2024

The renewable energy industry is evolving rapidly, and RE+, one of the most anticipated industry events of the year, offers a front-row seat to the latest trends and innovations. With over 40,000 clean energy professionals in attendance, this year’s event brought together developers, EPCs (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction firms), and industry leaders to tackle some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities. 

From advances in agrivoltaics to the role of AI in managing litigation risks, RE+ highlighted key insights that will shape the future of the renewable energy sector.

Here are the top five takeaways from RE+ that every renewable energy professional should know.

1. Community engagement is more important than ever

As renewable energy projects proliferate, developers are encountering new challenges in community engagement. One of the most significant insights from RE+ was the increasing importance of community relations and the rising number of project derailments caused by local opposition and litigious landowners. Industry leaders repeatedly emphasized that failing to engage with communities early and consistently can result in projects being delayed or even canceled.

Key Takeaway: For developers, understanding community sentiment and involving area residents in the project planning process is big! Early outreach, transparency, and active participation in local initiatives can prevent conflicts and opposition down the road. Building trust and fostering solid relationships will continue to grow in importance as the industry moves forward.

Real-World Example: One developer mentioned that their project timeline would have been significantly reduced if they had initiated community engagement sooner. This sentiment was echoed by many other participants at RE+, highlighting the need to plant the seeds of trust from the very beginning of the permitting process.

2. Agrivoltaics is gaining traction

The concept of agrivoltaics, where solar energy production is integrated with agricultural activities, emerged as one of the hottest topics at RE+. With land-use conflicts becoming a significant barrier to large-scale solar projects, agrivoltaics offers a potential solution. The practice involves co-locating solar panels with crops or livestock, allowing landowners to maintain agricultural productivity while generating renewable energy.

Solar grazing is a particularly interesting subset of agrivoltaics that came up at RE+. This involves using livestock, such as sheep, to graze the land around solar installations, naturally managing vegetation growth while allowing farmers to continue using the land for agriculture. Solar grazing isn’t just an environmentally friendly way to keep the land productive; it’s also cost-effective, reducing the need for mechanical vegetation control and fostering biodiversity.

Key Takeaway: Agrivoltaics presents a win-win situation by maximizing land use and increasing project approval rates. It allows solar developers to collaborate with farmers and ranchers, bringing mutual benefits in terms of energy generation and agricultural productivity. The growing interest in this practice signals that it could be the next frontier in renewable energy development.

Challenges Ahead: While agrivoltaics is gaining momentum, engineers and stakeholders remain cautious. The technology is still in its early stages, with some expressing hesitancy about its large-scale adoption. Nonetheless, it was a recurring topic at RE+, with developers showing increasing interest in exploring this approach.

3. The need for AI to change how we manage legal risks

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be a game-changer in various industries, and renewable energy is no exception. At RE+, many developers highlighted the role of AI in addressing one of the most pressing issues they face: litigation risks involving landowners.
Developers, especially those working on solar projects, expressed a growing need for AI tools that can predict and manage legal risks. These tools can help identify litigious landowners, assess potential legal challenges, and even anticipate future conflicts, saving developers time and money in the long run.

Key Takeaway: AI-driven solutions can provide developers with a proactive way to avoid legal entanglements before they arise. By analyzing public records and historical data, AI can pinpoint landowners who have a history of legal disputes, allowing developers to navigate these risks early in the planning phase.

Industry Examples: Developers expressed excitement about AI solutions that can help them proactively identify and work with landowners more likely to collaborate smoothly on projects. One developer shared, "I want to know who the key players are in the community so I can partner with those open to collaboration and avoid potential conflicts down the road."

4. EPCs are facing new challenges

EPC firms face unique challenges, and RE+ shed light on several of these, including issues related to materials, terminology, and regulations. A common theme that emerged was the lack of standardization in terminology, which creates confusion and inefficiencies between EPCs and their clients.

Key Takeaway: EPCs need better alignment with their clients regarding industry terms and expectations. A disconnect between how terms like “electrical design” are understood can lead to costly project delays and misunderstandings. For EPCs to operate more effectively, clear communication and standardized terminology across the industry are essential.

Opportunities for Improvement: While EPCs encounter challenges with material quality, regional regulations, and integrating exciting new technologies like agrivoltaics, these hurdles present opportunities for growth and innovation. By improving material standards and refining processes, EPCs can position themselves to deliver even higher-quality projects. As the industry continues to evolve, overcoming these obstacles will lead to stronger, more resilient solutions for renewable energy development.

5. Data centers are a big opportunity for renewables

One of the most exciting opportunities discussed at RE+ was the growing role of data centers in driving demand for renewable energy. Data centers are notoriously energy-intensive, and as more companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta expand their data center footprints, the need for renewable energy to power these facilities will only increase.

Key Takeaway: The rapid expansion of data centers, particularly in regions like Northern Virginia, Dallas, and Phoenix, presents a significant opportunity for renewable energy developers. These areas are experiencing a boom in data center construction, and the companies behind these projects are increasingly prioritizing green energy solutions to meet their sustainability goals.

Market Outlook: According to industry experts, data center energy demand is expected to triple. A report by Newmark predicts that U.S. data center energy consumption could hit 35 GW by 2030, with McKinsey offering a higher projection of 50 GW.

Let’s continue to renew what's possible!

This year’s RE+ was a reminder of how fast the renewable energy industry is evolving. From community engagement to the potential of AI and the rise of agrivoltaics, the event highlighted the challenges and opportunities ahead. Staying informed and adaptable will be key as the industry continues to grow. Whether you’re a developer, an EPC, or just curious about the future of renewable energy, these top insights from RE+ offer a glimpse into where the industry is headed.