IRENA’s recent momentum places young people at the heart of the energy transformation, highlighting their ability to leverage digital solutions that accelerate access to renewable energy. During the seventh edition of the IRENA Youth Forum, held in Abu Dhabi, young people from different countries gathered to explore how artificial intelligence and other digital tools can strengthen energy planning, improve grid operation, and expand services in communities where access remains limited.

The meeting underscored that digitalisation not only redefines technical tasks but is also reshaping the sector’s labour landscape. The rise of automation is already evident in traditional roles, while new opportunities are emerging in data analysis, energy-focused data science, machine learning, and software development. This shift requires updating workforce skills, from grid operators managing real-time data to field technicians integrating mobile diagnostics into their work.

Despite technological progress, IRENA reminded participants that people remain the driving force behind change. The combination of digital capabilities, social commitment, and the innovative vision of young people is essential to speeding up an inclusive, sustainable, and accessible energy transition for all.