Are we moving towards a sustainable future or are we stuck in inaction? – asks marine renewable energy expert Jelte Kymmell

The transition to a future powered by clean and renewable energy has been one of the most important topics for many years. Various types of renewable energy sources are being developed, such as solar energy, hydropower, onshore and offshore wind, geothermal energy and biomass. However, as recent climate research has revealed, global efforts to decarbonize they don’t go as fast as necessary to reach the 1.5°C threshold set in the Paris Agreement.

In the coming years, the renewable energy sector will see new beginnings and continuous technological advancements, but there will also be problems in the form of project delays or cancellations. The question is whether these problems will be more of a speed bump or a brick wall, stopping innovation altogether. According to Jelte Kymmellmarine renewable energy expert and founder of a marine engineering consulting company Mocean Offshorethe problems facing the renewable energy industry reflect society’s attitude towards the climate crisis. He believes that society, although aware of the situation, is not treating it with the urgency it requires, which means that the market does not treat it as a priority and funds do not go to short-term innovations.

“The current discourse is like a regular pub chat – full of ideas but devoid of decisive action. The stakes are high and the need for a paradigm shift in our approach to energy is more critical than ever,” says Kymmell.

Society’s desire to contribute exists but is coupled with a lack of knowledge and urgency due to a common phenomenon called “eco-sharing”, where organizations present themselves as doing more for the environment than they actually do. According to the United Nationsgreenwashing is dangerous because it creates a false sense of social engagement and personal contribution, and therefore limits the actual effective actions that people might otherwise take. The “spirit of greenwashing” is often present but never obvious, one could say that it is an ideal strategy for predators.

Kymmell cites the example of people going on vacation to “green resorts‘ that implement various local measures to reduce some of their carbon emissions and environmental impact, but use air travel to do so. He believes that many people who go on holiday feel like they are contributing to the cause, but in reality they are doing more harm than good.

“I’m not saying that going on holiday is bad, but people who believe that by going on a ‘green holiday’ they are doing something good for the environment are wrong,” he says. “Greenwashing greatly limits our efforts to build a renewable future, and policies need to be developed that enforce a much greater degree of transparency in corporate communications and advertising.”

These are cases such as ‘green resorts“which show that societies want to do the right thing. We need real and clear forms of communication, both internally and externally, to ensure that the decisions we make not only make us feel good, but actually do good.

Moreover, some sectors are also reluctant to adopt renewable energy sources, focusing more on concerns about the potential negative impacts of new technologies and methods, but without taking into account the significant damage caused by existing high-carbon energy systems. Kymmell believes that their fixation on the perceived risks of adopting renewables is a luxury we simply can no longer afford, and creates a naive sense of urgency in society. Some of these critics argue that implementing green technologies such as wind and solar power can lead to environmental degradation, high costs, and logistical challenges. Although they do exist disadvantages and hidden costs in some cases, this perspective often ignores the serious consequences of continuing the status quo, including unreduced greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and resource depletion.

The hesitancy of broader public opinion on climate issues has left the energy sector stuck in a “wait and see” approach where stakeholders discuss potential solutions but hesitate to implement them, creating a cycle of delay.

Kymmell believes there needs to be a shift in public attitudes around sustainability, including a greater emphasis on developing more innovative clean energy solutions through a radical new call for transparency. One such promising innovation is the development of floating wind farms. Unlike traditional fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines, which are limited by water depth, floating wind turbines can be installed in deeper waters where wind speeds are faster and more constant. Floating wind farms are designed to be versatile and scalable. For example, ECOTLP can be built and assembled using local resources, reducing the need for intensive shipping and associated carbon emissions.

ECOTLP, the most promising floating wind foundation solution for deepwater facilities, of which Kymmell is co-founder and chief technology officer, is working on cost-effective, mass-produced deepwater wind tension platforms to depths of 200 to 3,000 meters. A key factor in the unique design was the recognition of the impact of operation and maintenance costs throughout the lifespan. This process allows most components to be manufactured using local materials and labor, reducing the carbon footprint of production by using slipformed concrete instead of costly steel solutions with a large footprint.

According to Kymmell, the energy transition faces many obstacles, from technical challenges and resource availability to local politics and community acceptance. To ensure real progress, a comprehensive and rapid approach is therefore needed that involves all stakeholders from the outset.

“The pace of green energy innovation is not as urgent as it deserves,” he says. “This is a shared responsibility not only of industry, but also of government, academia, corporations and society at large. Ultimately, the success of the energy transition depends on the ability to adopt new technologies and approaches with a sense of urgency and determination. The time to act is now, and the path forward is clear – enforce transparency, innovate, implement and accelerate.