The global energy transition may be accelerating, but for many, the basic right to electricity remains out of reach. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, experts highlighted how decentralising energy systems and fostering collaboration between the Global North and South could bridge this gap, all while tackling the climate crisis.
Gill Scheltens, CEO of D-CRBN, outlined a simple yet transformative vision. “The sun shines for more hours in a year in the Global South. And that’s a big competitive advantage that cannot be beaten. You cannot influence this,” he said, explaining how decentralised solar energy could empower underserved communities in these regions.
Scheltens explained D-CRBN’s innovative approach: an electrified process that transforms CO2 emissions into reusable building blocks for the chemical and petrochemical industries. By decentralising this technology, particularly in sun-rich regions, emissions could be mitigated while empowering local communities with sustainable energy solutions.
However, the journey is anything but straightforward. Scheltens pointed to a critical barrier: instability in many regions of the Global South delays investments. “The main reason for this is actually the instability in the regions. And I think if we can collaborate so hand in hand, finding a win-win between the North and the South, I think we can overcome these hurdles and really make a difference,” he said.
For Stefanie Ólives, an Infrastructure and Energy lawyer from Brazil, the energy transition isn’t just about technology; it’s about equity. She highlighted how, despite Brazil’s vast renewable resources, many communities remain without reliable energy. “Brazil nowadays already [has] a clean energy matrix. So we have so much potential, so much hydro power plant energy. I think that despite all this potential, we still have regions where we don’t have basic facilities for energy,” she explained.
Microgrids and storage solutions, she suggested, could empower remote areas like the Amazon. “If we use technology to solve those problems, I think microgrids and storage would be really great to give those communities autonomy, because, as we all are saying, the transition is not going to happen overnight, but those people need access to energy now.”
Ipeleng Salili, Chairperson of Brand South Africa, spoke on the need for fairness in these efforts. “It’s very important that we live in an inclusive society that recognises that we exist,” she said, stressing the importance of partnerships that include local players and respect the sovereignty of the Global South.
Scheltens agreed that collaboration is key but warned that the Global North must prioritise investment over empty promises. “If we are basing these building blocks on oil and gas, it’s actually a burden on the environment. That’s one thing,” he said. His company’s electrified process for converting CO2 into valuable building blocks for the petrochemical industry, he explained, could offer a cleaner path forward if supported by the right infrastructure and funding.
Professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam, Joyeeta Gupta added another layer to the conversation by stressing the urgency of avoiding fossil fuel lock-ins. “The problem now is, if you want to close down fossil fuel in the Global South, you’re going to basically force them not to use their resources and make them bear the burden of the sacrifice of both not using the fossil fuel and of facing the damages caused by climate change. So it’s a double-edged sword for developing countries,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the speakers were optimistic about the potential for change. “I do believe – and this is really my personal opinion – that if we can have a buy-in, an industrial buy-in, in the Global South by the Global North, then all these domestic issues, they will be solved,” Scheltens said.
The message from the panel was clear: achieving energy equity isn’t just about advancing technology or hitting climate targets – it’s about fairness, collaboration, and acting now. Whether the global community can rise to this challenge remains to be seen.
