How ENGIE is innovating for a sustainable future globally

In an exclusive interview with Energy Connects ahead of World Utilities Congress 2025, François-Xavier Boul, Vice President Renewables AMEA, & Managing Director MENA, ENGIE, discusses how ENGIE drives the energy transition through innovation, technology, and renewable solutions.

• How is ENGIE leveraging innovation and technology to drive the energy transition?

ENGIE is actively leveraging innovation and technology to drive the energy transition through its dedicated research and development centres, notably ENGIE Lab CRIGEN which conducts operational R&D projects, develops pilot programs, and implements innovative offers to accelerate the energy transition. The lab boasts unique testing facilities, including nine specialised laboratories dedicated to hydrogen, biogas, bio-LNG, industrial applications, drones, robots, and more, enabling the development and optimisation of low-carbon technologies. We test the latest technology evolutions of solar panels in real environment conditions through our labs in Belgium and Chile.

Boosting large scale desalination competitiveness and further developing operation excellence are key drivers for ENGIE Research and Innovation. In this context, ENGIE R&I, in support to the ENGIE Desalination Centre of Excellence, is deploying a Desalination Testing Platform focusing first on pre-treatment and reverse osmosis, followed by brine management. The reverse osmosis pilots and pre-treatment units will run as of Q2 – 2025.  The testing program compliments ENGIE’s operational and business need.

• With the growing focus on energy security and resilience, what strategies is ENGIE implementing to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply?

Globally, ENGIE is expanding its portfolio of renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, biogas, green hydrogen, hydropower, geothermal energy, and biomass. This diversification reduces dependency on any single energy source and enhances overall energy security. In the region ENGIE is focused on wind, solar and batteries. A key focus is our investment in advanced energy storage technologies, such as battery storage as this solution helps balance supply and demand, ensuring a stable energy supply even during peak usage times or when renewable generation is low. ENGIE is also focusing on Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) as a backup supply option. OCGTs can be quickly ramped up to provide electricity during peak demand periods or when renewable energy sources are not available. This flexibility ensures a reliable energy supply and supports the integration of more renewable energy into the grid.

• How does ENGIE see the role of public-private partnerships in accelerating the adoption of clean energy solutions worldwide?

ENGIE is familiar with Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). In fact, we have been a key promoter of such models and we view these as crucial in accelerating the adoption of clean energy solutions worldwide. PPPs allow us to collaborate with governments and private entities, combining their expertise and resources to develop and implement innovative energy solutions on a fast-track basis. Through PPPs, we can secure long-term investments for large-scale renewable energy projects through an optimised risk allocation typically proposed on such successful schemes. PPPs can influence policy and regulatory frameworks to support the transition to clean energy.

• What are you planning to showcase at World Utilities Congress 2025?

At the World Utilities Congress 2025, ENGIE plans to showcase a range of innovative solutions and technologies aimed at pragmatically driving the energy transition and enhancing utility resilience. From our latest advancements in renewable energy, including solar and wind, to solutions that are crucial for balancing supply and demand and ensuring a stable energy supply. We thrive in delivering our decarbonised solutions addressing the needs of our customers in a timely manner providing the required level of long-term performance.