According to Fortune, ACWA Power chairman Mohammad Abunayyan warned at the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh that tariff wars and rising politicization of renewable power are creating “great disturbance” in the global energy transition. Abunayyan criticized trade barriers without specifically mentioning former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, while praising China’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and supply chains. The discussion featured multiple energy leaders, including Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, who revealed the UAE aims for 50% renewable electricity by 2030 and highlighted their new 1 gigawatt solar-plus-storage project that provides power 99% of the time. Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor emphasized that no single technology will solve energy challenges, advocating instead for smart integration of diverse energy sources tailored to regional needs.
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The Uncomfortable Reality of China’s Clean Energy Dominance
Abunayyan’s statement that “if there is no China, there is no energy transition” reflects a fundamental truth that Western policymakers often ignore. China currently controls approximately 80% of global solar panel manufacturing capacity, dominates wind turbine component production, and processes the majority of critical minerals needed for batteries. This concentration creates significant geopolitical vulnerabilities, particularly as countries attempt to build domestic supply chains through protectionist measures. The irony is that while Western nations criticize China’s environmental record, they remain dependent on Chinese manufacturing to meet their own climate targets. This dependency creates a paradox where achieving climate goals requires engaging with the very supply chain dominance that trade barriers seek to counter.
Solving the Intermittency Challenge Through Technology Integration
Masdar’s “round-the-clock” renewable project represents a critical evolution beyond basic solar and wind installations. By combining solar generation with advanced battery storage and AI management, these hybrid systems address the fundamental reliability concerns that have long plagued renewable energy adoption. The 99% availability rate mentioned by Al Ramahi demonstrates how energy storage technology has matured from experimental to commercially viable at utility scale. What’s particularly significant is that these solutions are emerging in oil-exporting nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, suggesting that even traditional energy powers recognize the economic inevitability of the energy transition. The NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for 2027 completion, represents another technological pathway that could eventually provide dispatchable clean power.
The Geopolitical Storm Brewing Over Clean Technology
The tension between energy security and climate action is creating new geopolitical fault lines. While Abunayyan advocates for removing trade barriers, the reality is that nations are increasingly treating clean energy technology as a strategic asset. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act’s domestic content requirements, European carbon border adjustments, and various export restrictions on critical minerals all represent forms of green protectionism. This creates a dangerous scenario where climate progress becomes collateral damage in broader geopolitical competitions. The involvement of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in ACWA Power and Chinese state-owned enterprises in renewable projects worldwide indicates that energy transition infrastructure is becoming the next arena for great power influence, mirroring historical patterns in oil and gas geopolitics.
The Practical Reality of Energy Diversification
Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor’s emphasis on “smart integration” rather than technological purity reflects the practical realities facing energy developers. The notion that every region can simply replace fossil fuels with renewables ignores fundamental differences in geography, infrastructure, and economic development. Green hydrogen projects, advanced nuclear, carbon capture, and other technologies will need to complement solar and wind in a diversified portfolio. What’s often missing from public discourse is the massive grid modernization required to handle variable renewable sources—a challenge that requires trillions in investment and complex regulatory coordination. The energy transition isn’t merely about building more solar farms; it’s about redesigning entire energy systems while maintaining reliability and affordability during the decades-long transition period.
