· 6 min read
Leadership beyond borders
What does it take to lead the energy transition? While global conferences, ambitious policies, and corporate strategies often dominate the conversation, some of the most impactful energy transitions are happening in unexpected places—far from traditional centers of power.
Take Feldheim, Germany, a small village in Brandenburg with just 130 residents. Over the last three decades, it has become Germany’s first and only energy-self-sufficient community. Through locally owned wind, solar, and biogas power, the town produces 100% of its electricity and heat without relying on fossil fuels or external suppliers. The success of Feldheim proves that energy transformation can start at the grassroots level, driven by local leadership and collaboration.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, off-grid communities in Somalia are facing a vastly different energy challenge: the absence of centralised power infrastructure. In a country where renewable energy could be a lifeline, the startup OxReGen is introducing a new model of decentralised wind energy. By adapting low-cost small-scale wind turbines for off-grid households, they are providing affordable and sustainable electricity to communities that have never had reliable power before.
Both examples—Feldheim’s self-sufficiency and Somalia’s off-grid innovation—underscore a fundamental truth: the energy transition is not just about technology but about leadership. The people who drive these changes are not always policymakers or corporate executives; they are entrepreneurs, engineers, activists, and young professionals who dare to rethink how we produce and distribute energy.
But how do we cultivate and empower the next generation of energy leaders? This is the mission of the World Energy Council’s Future Energy Leaders (FEL) program.
Today, we speak with Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, a global board member of the FEL program and sustainability manager at Philips, to explore how FEL is shaping the decision-makers of tomorrow.
The world energy council and the future energy leaders program
The World Energy Council is one of the most influential global organisations in the energy sector. Established in 1923, it is a United Nations-mandated NGO with over 100 member countries, bringing together governments, energy companies, and industry leaders to shape the future of energy.
Unlike regulatory bodies that impose policies, the World Energy Council operates as a think tank and strategic network, facilitating high-level discussions, research, and initiatives that drive the global energy transition. It provides decision-makers with expertise, data, and strategic insights to navigate the rapidly evolving energy landscape.
One of its key initiatives is the Future Energy Leaders program, a unique platform designed to empower young professionals who are passionate about shaping the energy transition. Rather than just preparing them for leadership in the distant future, FEL actively places them in decision-making environments today.
“The Future Energy Leaders program is about creating the next generation of people who are transforming the energy transition in terms of sustainability and making it more people-centric. We do this through hands-on development and real-world engagement.”
— Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, Future Energy Leaders Board Member
The FEL program isn’t just a training course or a networking club—it’s a platform for action: Members of the program don’t sit on the sidelines; they engage directly in roundtable discussions with energy ministers and CEOs, and conduct policy research on energy transition. They come up with their own ideas and share them to the people that can actually change the energy ecosystem, the people who are in power now.
At its core, the FEL program embodies the idea that the energy transition is not a spectator sport. The people who shape the future of energy are those who actively participate in the conversations, innovations, and policies that will define it.
But who are these Future Energy Leaders, and how do they get involved?
Who are the future energy leaders?
Unlike traditional leadership programs, FEL brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds:
“You don't have to work at an electricity or gas company. Anyone passionate about the energy ecosystem can apply to be part of this.”
— Thaddeus Anim-Somuah
The program is designed for professionals under the age of 35 who are committed to driving change in the energy sector. Its is organised on two levels: a national one on the level of the member states, and a global one.
Leading beyond activism
The primary real power is this intergenerational collaboration - it becomes us together. The second power is that the young people are already experts in the field or highly interested in it. They can follow whatever conversation is happening on this high level, they can come up with very good arguments for and against an issue. This makes it fundamentally different from activism because activists often lack the same knowledge and skills.
The activist may be upset that a lobbyist had more influence on the government. Yet in this case, we are working with the lobbyists; the participants get the same information. So it's almost like "corporate activism" because you're the inside man making the change.
The role of community and collaboration
Beyond the Future Energy Leaders program, several initiatives and events are designed to build strong communities that drive and scale energy innovations.
A key recurring event for more than a century is the World Energy Congress, with the most recent edition in 2024 in Rotterdam, bringing together over 8,500 stakeholders from 118 countries. This global forum fosters new connections and collaborations to accelerate the energy transition. Among the speakers were 40 Future Energy Leaders, showcasing the next generation’s role in shaping the industry.
Another important initiative is the Women in Energy program, which connects female professionals across the sector, addressing leadership gender gaps. The program operates at the national level in several countries, but expanding its reach requires collaboration. For stakeholders like Thaddeus Anim-Somuah, a key mission is to connect and scale such initiatives globally:
“The key to creating this community lies in these events: to make something people can work with and understand how you can improve a community.”
— Thaddeus Anim-Somuah
The energy transition: Moving beyond excuses
One of the biggest challenges in the energy transition isn’t technology or cost—it’s breaking the cycle of inaction. Governments point at companies, companies blame regulations, and consumers hesitate to change their behaviour. Meanwhile, critical infrastructure like electricity grids remains congested, preventing individuals and businesses from adopting cleaner solutions.
"There is a lot we can already do and don't do," says Thaddeus Anim-Somuah. "Governments often point out companies, but then governments don’t do their homework. The whole market moves when priorities shift—but someone has to make the first move."
History has shown that investing in new technologies lowers costs over time—as seen with wind and solar energy over the past 20 years. But Europe lacks the venture capital culture of the U.S., making government intervention essential. Policy shifts, such as adjusting energy pricing to influence consumption patterns, could drive behavioural change.
The transition is not just about adopting cleaner technologies—it’s about creating the right incentives, regulations, and priorities to make change happen. The question is: who will take responsibility for making the first move?
The future of energy leadership
The energy transition is already happening, but its success depends on who leads it. The Future Energy Leaders program ensures that the next generation of decision-makers is not waiting for the future—they are shaping it today. By providing real-world engagement, leadership opportunities, and direct access to key players, it proves that young professionals are not just participants in the energy sector—they are driving its transformation. The question is not whether the energy transition will happen, but who will take responsibility for making it work.
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
