EP 5: Why Better Coordination Could Unlock Europe's Energy Transition

Why Better Coordination Could Unlock Europe’s Energy Transition

When we talk about accelerating the energy transition, the conversation often centers on new technologies—better batteries, smarter grids, or more renewable generation.

But what if one of the biggest barriers isn’t technology at all?

At Intersolar Europe, Aneri spoke with Daniel Schaub, co-founder of The Energy Bridge, about why coordination between policymakers, industry, researchers, and startups may be one of the most overlooked drivers of Europe’s clean energy future.

Technology is moving faster than policy

Innovation in the energy sector is advancing rapidly, but regulatory frameworks often struggle to keep pace.

Daniel argues that policymakers face an incredibly difficult challenge: making decisions today that will shape energy infrastructure for decades. That makes stronger collaboration between government, industry, academia, and innovators essential for reducing uncertainty and unlocking investment.

Europe’s next opportunity is smarter coordination

Rather than focusing solely on building more infrastructure, Daniel believes Europe should also focus on making better use of the infrastructure it already has.

Many emerging startups are developing software that can optimise grid operations, improve flexibility, and increase network capacity without requiring entirely new transmission assets. As Daniel puts it, the future is about “orchestrating electrons”—using intelligence to get more value from existing systems.

Startups have an important role to play

Daniel also highlighted the importance of bringing startups into policy and industry discussions earlier.

Young companies often move faster than established organisations, developing new software, business models, and digital tools that can solve real challenges facing the energy sector. Better collaboration between innovators and decision-makers can help accelerate deployment while ensuring policy keeps pace with technological change.

Final Thoughts

The energy transition isn’t just an engineering challenge—it’s a coordination challenge.

Success will depend on connecting policymakers with researchers, startups with utilities, and innovators with industry. By creating stronger links across the ecosystem, Europe can reduce risk, accelerate investment, and unlock the full potential of clean energy innovation.

🎥 Watch the full interview to hear Daniel Schaub share why coordination may be the missing piece in Europe’s energy transition and how stronger collaboration can accelerate innovation across the energy ecosystem.