Youth are playing a central role in driving system-wide transformations in the energy sector, using digital tools such as artificial intelligence to make renewable energy technologies more accessible and impactful across communities and markets. Since 2020, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has organised the IRENA Youth Forum as a flagship platform for intergenerational dialogue, capacity building, and youth policy advocacy, forming part of its broader strategy to engage and empower young leaders in the global energy transition.
The seventh edition of the IRENA Youth Forum took place in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Sixteenth Session of the IRENA Assembly and ran for three days under the theme “Youth Innovation and Digital Solutions: From AI to Access in Renewable Energy.” Supported by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, the Forum was officially opened by H.E. Dr. Amna Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and focused on how young people can harness cutting-edge digital tools to accelerate energy access and support the global shift to renewable energy.
As part of the programme, IRENA collaborated with the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to host a session on the impact of digitalisation and AI on the future of renewable energy employment. The discussions highlighted the need to develop digital solutions in parallel with physical energy infrastructure and planning, while also ensuring workforce development keeps pace with the sector’s evolving demands.
According to IRENA’s most recent annual review on renewable jobs, growing automation has already influenced employment trends, but it is also creating opportunities for new roles in energy data analytics, AI and machine learning, software development, and other digital-focused fields. Existing positions are evolving as well, with grid operators relying on real-time predictive data, field technicians using mobile diagnostic tools, and energy auditors leveraging smart meters and analytics platforms.
In his opening remarks, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera emphasised that people remain at the heart of the energy transition. He noted that young people are using digital skills, AI, data science, and innovation to transform energy systems worldwide, but stressed that technology alone is not enough. The real driver of change is people, particularly young leaders willing to take responsibility and collaborate for a sustainable future. Prof. Timothy Baldwin, Provost of MBZUAI, highlighted the university’s commitment to research and partnerships that turn innovation into measurable impact. He noted that hosting the Youth Forum allowed young innovators to apply AI and digital solutions in ways that make the energy transition inclusive, ambitious, and deliverable at scale.
Throughout the event, participants explored trends in AI and digitalisation within renewable energy, examined the implications of digital technologies for employment, and discussed the need for skills development that meets the demands of a digitalised energy sector. During the Closing Session of the Sixteenth Assembly, two youth representatives spoke on behalf of 140 participants from 62 countries, presenting a collective call to action.
They urged that AI be used to strengthen inclusive energy systems, that youth skills, training, and institutional trust be prioritised to close the gap in the energy transition, and that young people be recognised as co-creators in multilateral decision-making on energy issues. In conclusion, the youth representatives emphasised the urgency of action, stating that in today’s rapidly changing and uncertain environment, it is their right to demand progress and that global leaders must follow through on these priorities.
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