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As the energy and utilities industry undergoes a profound transformation, peer innovation has become essential to driving meaningful progress. To cultivate this exchange, Silicon Foundry, in partnership with Kearney, launched The Collective // Energy + Utilities, a year-long membership designed for executives shaping the sector’s future.
The Inaugural Assembly, held on October 1–2, 2025, in Amsterdam, marked the official launch of the program. The two-day gathering brought together senior leaders from across the global energy and utilities ecosystem for an engaging, interactive experience centered on digitalization, decarbonization, automation, and AI-driven operations. Guided by CEO Neal Hansch, Managing Director Farzin Shadpour, IMP³ROVE’s Managing Director Martin Ruppert, and Director Prutha Atre, the Assembly featured curated discussions, live case exchanges, and collaborative workshops focused on unlocking pathways to a more sustainable and intelligent energy future.
A Dynamic Format for Candid Collaboration
Taking place at Kearney’s new PERLab, a space for production innovation and design that embodies peer learning and collaboration, the Assembly brought together a diverse mix of utility executives, energy-tech innovators, industrial leaders, venture investors, and startup founders, spanning regions from Europe and the Middle East to Silicon Valley. The result was a powerful cross-section of perspectives united around innovation priorities such as next-gen renewables, energy storage, and AI for asset optimization to accelerate the global energy transition.
Over two days, rather than utilizing keynotes and slide decks, participants engaged with each other in moderated discussions and fireside chats, shared learnings from innovation initiatives and past investments, and unlocked new collaboration opportunities. The Assembly kicked off by decoding the latest investment flows, trends, and tailwinds driving the momentum in the energy and utilities industry. The second day,shifted gears towards execution, focusing on turning pilot projects into “power moves,” and aligning on collaborative dialogue and actionable outcomes. Outside the agenda, attendees toured the PERLab’s product innovation facilities and deepened connections during intimate networking dinners overlooking Amsterdam’s harbour.
Key Takeaways: Framing the Future and Turning Insight into Action
Discussions from the Assembly uncovered key insights and emerging opportunities shaping how the industry evolves toward a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable future.
The Digital and AI Frontier
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a foundational layer. From automating predictive maintenance to optimizing grid operations, AI-driven transformations are showing tangible impact, offering up to a 40% EBIT uplift potential across the sector. Beyond operations, AI is accelerating innovation cycles themselves, shortening the path from concept to deployment and reshaping how companies experiment, partner, and scale.
Shifting Capital Flows
Investment dynamics are evolving, and while the overall volume of deals is contracting, the average size is growing. China remains the global leader, exceeding USD 600 billion annually in clean energy manufacturing and deployment. Meanwhile, India is emerging as a new growth engine, attracting international investment and advancing domestic capabilities in renewables, grid modernization, and technology infrastructure.
Renewable Reinvention for Wind, Solar, and Storage
Lab based testing of perovskite–silicon tandem materials have now surpassed 30% power conversion, signaling a major leap in solar performance. Meanwhile, dual-use solar applications are gaining traction across markets.
At the same time, leading energy players are directing over half of their R&D investment toward wind, particularly floating offshore systems that can unlock new capacity in deep-water regions. Complementing these advances, energy storage is evolving into a value engine of its own: analytics and AI optimization can deliver profit improvements of roughly 1.5% through smarter hybrid system design. Sodium-based batteries are also emerging as promising, cost-effective alternatives to lithium-ion.
Next-Generation Geothermal
Geothermal energy is entering a new era of exploration, powered by AI and advanced modeling. Simulations are reducing exploration risk, improving well siting, and making projects more economically viable. Further ahead, superhot rock, operating at temperatures above 374°C, represents a frontier technology that could provide sustainable, round-the-clock baseload power
XR and Workforce Transformation
Workforce transformation is as critical as technology deployment, with immersive technologies transforming how frontline workers train, collaborate, and operate. Head-mounted displays and mixed-reality environments are becoming integral to maintenance, safety, and remote support, marking the next evolution in human–machine interaction beyond mobile and desktop.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Momentum
The Assembly showcased the growing importance of ecosystem-driven innovation within the energy and utilities sector, where attendees demonstrated a unified commitment to applying technology toward resilience and sustainability.
With the inaugural Assembly setting a new benchmark for collaborative learning experiences, future editions will continue to blend strategic foresight with practical execution. The next Assembly is slated for Q1 2026 in the U.S., hosted within a leading R&D hub. Building on the momentum from Amsterdam, it will expand its focus to include energy storage innovation, hydrogen digitalization, and grid-edge intelligence, advancing a community dedicated to shaping the future of global energy systems.
