FM discusses the necessity of building resilience into the globe’s growing renewable energy infrastructure
Renewable energy is growing fast, but is it as resilient as we think? With global electricity demand expected to double by 2050, nearly all solar and wind operators are planning to expand in the next three years. Managing emerging risks, however, is becoming more complex.
The gap between perceived security and actual resilience is a major challenge. Developers, asset owners and financiers are investing heavily, but many lack the visibility needed to mitigate long-term risks.
Without a deeper understanding of these risks, organisations face higher costs, insurance limitations and potential disruptions.
Renewable energy projects are designed with equipment reliability in mind, focusing on turbines, solar panels and battery storage systems.
However, the biggest threats aren’t always mechanical failures. Extreme weather, wildfires, grid instability and supply chain disruptions pose significant challenges. Even minor design flaws or unforeseen external factors can lead to major setbacks.
A recent FM survey revealed that many companies don’t fully account for climate volatility. Offshore wind projects in Europe face severe storms, salt water corrosion and supply chain bottlenecks.
Solar farms contend with hail, dust storms and rapid temperature changes that can degrade equipment efficiency.
Renewable resilience
As renewable energy development accelerates in Europe, FM has introduced its renewable energy operational policy to the region, following a successful launch in the United States and Canada. This policy provides tailored risk management solutions to help companies design, build and operate renewable energy assets with greater resilience.
Doug Patterson, senior vice president for forest products and renewable energy at FM, has emphasised the importance of integrating risk management from the start.
FM is also investing in scientific research and engineering solutions in EMEA with its new FM Science and Technology Centre in Luxembourg, a state of the art facility dedicated to research on climate hazards, technology in industry and cyber risk loss prevention solutions.
Scheduled to open in 2027, the centre will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration.
The renewable energy sector will continue to grow, but long-term success depends on more than expansion.
Confidence in infrastructure must be matched with a clear understanding of risk. FM’s pioneering approach helps companies turn awareness into action, providing specialised expertise, engineering-driven solutions and long-term partnerships.
By applying scientific data, climate modeling and hands-on engineering assessments, FM helps businesses reduce their exposure and build with confidence for the future.
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