Chinese and US consumers value sustainability, with 70% and 41% recognising its importance, respectively (Deloitte and Nielsen, 2023). Yet over 55% find sustainable products too expensive (Deloitte, 2024). Canny energy companies are bridging this gap, enabling consumers to become power producers through cost-saving renewable innovations.

AI is streamlining energy management, making it easier for consumers and utility companies to reduce the amount of energy they draw from the grid. AI-powered utility platforms are recommending optimal usage times for high-energy appliances, while smart-home platforms are automatically modifying device settings to reduce consumption – ushering in a new era of intelligent energy optimisation.

As clean energy solutions mature, different renewable technologies are merging – from solar-powered water conservation and rooftop wind turbines, to combined solar panel-meets-heat pump systems. These emerging energy team-ups are driving efficiency, resiliency, and new opportunities for personal power management.

Advanced heat-based storage (storing power as thermal energy for later use) and heating/cooling technologies are proving critical enablers of the transition to renewable energy. From large capacity sand batteries to cheaper heat pump solutions and water-harvesting air conditioning systems, these thermal advancements are enhancing energy efficiency, expanding renewable integration, and unlocking new sustainability opportunities.