Resilience: the next phase of the energy transition

If there is one word that dominates today’s global energy conversation, it is resilience. A few years ago, every discussion in our industry centered on accelerating the transition – how quickly we could move from fossil fuels to renewables, and how many climate goals we could meet by 2030 and 2050. That remains essential, but the world’s growing electricity demand, aging grids, and new threats mean that a focus on sustainability alone is no longer enough. Without resilience, the energy transition will fail.  

Resilience used to mean toughness, or the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. But given today’s geopolitical and economic realities, combined with the rapid pace of technological change, its meaning is evolving. Now, resilience also means having the ability to move forward in the face of complex, interconnected, and rapidly changing environments. In our context, it means building energy systems that can anticipate the unexpected and continue running during a crisis.  

Why the time to address energy resilience is now – and how to do it  

The need for pragmatic design thinking has never been greater as our energy systems are exposed to a growing number of risks. Cyberattacks on energy companies are increasing – we regularly see attempted intrusions on our own systems. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Geopolitical uncertainty continues to test supply chains. And the world’s grids – many built decades ago – are under significant strain from electrification, population growth, and soaring demand driven by energy-intensive AI and data centers.  

In today’s world, energy resilience is non-negotiable. That’s why we must consider how to embed it into every layer of the global energy transition. I see five principles that define true resilience: 
 
1. Resilience by design. The unexpected is now the inevitable. Systems must be designed and tested to withstand shocks before they occur. Digital twins and advanced simulations allow us to stress-test how grids may respond to the sudden loss of generation, cyber incidents, or natural disasters.  
2. Localising failures to protect stability. When something fails, the damage must stay local. Modern protection relays and automation can isolate a fault in milliseconds, rerouting power to keep hospitals, airports, and data centers online. Containing small problems prevents large crises and outages at critical infrastructure. 

3.Speed as a measure of resilience. Recovery time is the ultimate test. Clear procedures, regular drills, and mobile units can ensure hours of disruption don’t turn into days. Preparation is what separates a short interruption from a national crisis. 
 
4. Standardisation as a strategy. Too much critical equipment is still one-of-a-kind, making repairs slow and expensive. Modular, standard designs aid replacement and simplify logistics. In a volatile world, the ability to swap a part instantly can define the strength of an entire system.

5. Proactive security and localising supply chains. Security measures must keep pace with evolving threats. It is important for operators to have the necessary legal frameworks to implement protective technologies – such as advanced cyber defenses and counter-drone solutions – while respecting local regulations. At the same time, building diverse and localised supply chains ensures that energy systems remain reliable, even when global logistics face challenges. 

Resilience requires investments 

These ideas may sound technical, but their impact is wide-ranging. After all, a reliable and uninterrupted power supply is a matter of safety, economic stability, and national security. This is why we must address the resilience of our energy systems with urgency. And we must be prepared for energy resilience to carry a cost. Like any insurance policy, it will require investment – but the price of being unprepared is far higher.  

To truly achieve energy resilience, we will also need the right mix of technologies. While renewables are essential, they alone cannot meet all our energy requirements – natural gas will remain an important and significant part of our global energy mix for some time to come. Nuclear, storage technologies, a robust grid, and digital controls will also be essential.  

The Middle East can lead the way  

For the Middle East, resilience and transition already go hand in hand. The region has long delivered energy with reliability. Now it can lead the next phase – by advancing localised manufacturing, large-scale renewable installations, interconnections, and in the future, green hydrogen corridors, the region can place itself firmly at the center of the energy future.  

The pace of change has never been faster – and yet it is still not fast enough. The task ahead is clear: design for shocks, contain failures, recover quickly, standardise relentlessly and secure supply chains. By now prioritising the development of resilient energy systems, we can make sure that the years we have invested in the global transition continue to count. When the unexpected happens – and it will – resilience will ensure that the energy sector keeps providing reliable power, no matter what challenges arise.