‘The energy transition is and always will be a team sport’ says Siemens’ Puneet Singh

In an Enlit exclusive, Puneet Singh, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Siemens, discusses how technology and teamwork can build a secure, sustainable and competitive energy future.

How does the European energy sector turn shared ambition into collaborative action?

The energy transition is, and will always be, a team sport. Europe's shared ambition for a sustainable and resilient energy future is effectively translated into collaborative action through a powerful combination of EU-level strategic frameworks, robust financial instruments, and relentless technological innovation.

Initiatives like the Affordable Energy Action Plan, a cornerstone of the Green Deal, have significantly accelerated investments in renewable energy generation, driven industrial decarbonisation, and fostered critical investments in clean tech manufacturing.

Furthermore, the increasing number of cross-border interconnectors stands as a tangible testament to this shared commitment, demonstrating how nations are working together to achieve over 50% renewable energy by 2030. It's about creating an ecosystem where policy, finance, and technology converge to drive real change.

What does Europe need to do to deliver competitive, resilient energy by 2030?

The recent spikes in energy prices have clearly shown that a singular push for renewable energy, while crucial, won't do the magic on its own.

We need a fundamental rethinking of our energy mix, acknowledging that today, a broader spectrum of options is on the table.

Given that 2030 is a very short timeframe, it's imperative to swiftly complete projects already underway, rigorously implement F-gas-free regulations, and significantly expedite permits for battery energy storage system projects to unlock much-needed grid flexibility.
Beyond that, we must ensure supply chain resilience through a strong ‘Make in Europe’ initiative, fostering strategic autonomy and creating a level playing field for sustainability in public procurement for power equipment and services.

Finally, accelerating the adoption of digital and AI technologies is non-negotiable, but always with robust guardrails around data sovereignty and cybersecurity to ensure secure operations.

Is there another vertical industry which has vital lessons for the energy sector?

The world is more connected than ever. Our hyperconnected lifestyles, the digitalisation of industries, IoT deployment, the evolution of AI – all generate unprecedented volumes of data. As digital demand explodes, data centres are one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. As they power digitalisation across sectors, their operations are scaling to keep up — becoming critical infrastructure as the backbone of our digital society.

Data centres are one such vertical that offers important learnings, for example, in the choice of primary energy mix. Here we see multiple options such as small modular reactors, microgrids and hybrid energy mix, showcasing the many options in primary energy mix. There is also a strong focus on energy efficiency starting from the design phase, with lessons learnt from efficient cooling systems and the use of digital twins and artificial intelligence.

Standardisation of components and modularisation of products and systems are other features that the energy sector can learn from, whether it is integration of distributed energy resources or speeding up power-generating stations from design, construction to grid connection. Finally, data centres’ participation in demand response and other flexibility mechanisms also demonstrates how the energy sector can encourage flexible demand-side participation from industrial users and prosumers.

COP30: are you optimistic or pessimistic? What should it deliver to make true impact?

I’m cautiously optimistic. The choice of location deep in the Amazon is powerfully symbolic. The Amazon rainforest, often called the lungs of our planet, underscores the urgency of protecting vital ecosystems.

This year, the International Court of Justice reaffirmed that states have a legal duty to safeguard the climate, reinforcing that the 1.5°C target is not just aspirational: it’s a shared global responsibility.

There is encouraging momentum: over 100 countries are aligning behind climate action, and the commitment to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually in climate finance by 2035 is a significant step. But ambition alone isn’t enough. For COP30 to make a real impact, we need concrete mechanisms to ensure accountability, transparency, and collaboration across sectors and borders.

What is the biggest workforce issue for the energy transition? 

The energy transition is creating millions of jobs worldwide in renewables, electrification, and digital technologies. However, the workforce issue is a complex interplay of recruiting, reskilling, and retention. Worldwide we see a lot of experienced engineers ageing and on the verge of retirement. Hiring new professionals is not so easy due to competition from IT and other sectors. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) recruitment pipeline is also weak and suffers from a geographical mismatch in demand and supply. All these factors are bringing reskilling and retention into greater focus.

Is the energy sector making the most of the current AI tech?

The energy sector is not yet making the most of current AI technologies, but it is a rapidly evolving technology and is gaining acceptance around predictive maintenance. Benefits that are being realised include: reduced downtime and costs in turbines, transformers, and grid assets, or grid optimisation in balancing demand and supply and distributed energy resources integration. However, to scale beyond pilots, we need to connect the data residing in organisational silos, foster more AI literacy and cross-functional collaboration, and build strong guardrails around AI governance.

What sustainability practice in your organisation are you most proud of? And personally?

The Siemens Degree framework is an ambitious but holistic programme with strong focus around decarbonisation and sustainability for our company. To successfully tread the path of a sustainable future, there is a need for innovative, eco-friendly, and digital solutions. One pillar of the Siemens Degree framework is the Siemens Eco Tech label. It is an environmental declaration for our products based on product-specific evaluations of sustainability-relevant KPIs. It’s validated by TÜV Rheinland, providing additional proof of the correct and standardised approach of conducting our data.

Additionally, we at Siemens Electrification & Automation are proud of our F-gas-free switchgear portfolio for the entire medium-voltage range. With our blue GIS portfolio for medium-voltage power supply, we are prepared for the energy transition and digital transformation. Our Microgrid portfolio is helping with sustainable electrification for off-grid communities or supporting our customers in double peak avoidance, thus economically managing the grid with peak demand.

On a personal level, I believe in leading by example. Beyond conscious choices like reducing meat consumption and prioritising public transportation or cycling, I actively seek out products with lower embedded carbon footprints. It’s about making mindful decisions in daily life.

What are the biggest challenges facing energy leaders today?

 In 2025, energy leaders are navigating what I would describe as a perfect storm of interconnected challenges. Foremost among these is the constant balancing act of the energy trilemma: ensuring energy security, maintaining affordability for consumers and industries, and driving sustainability. This is further complicated by the imperative to build robust supply chain resilience in an increasingly volatile global landscape.

Beyond these, we grapple with significant regulatory complexity and often unpredictable policy uncertainty, which can hinder long-term investment and planning. Finally, the rapid pace of workforce transformation, as we discussed earlier, presents a critical challenge in ensuring we have the right skills and talent to execute the transition. These challenges are not isolated; we need to be aware of this.

How are your industry experts going to address these challenges at Enlit Europe?

 At Enlit Europe in Bilbao, our Siemens experts will demonstrate how we are not just responding to the challenges of the energy transition — we are helping to lead it.

 We’ll showcase our medium-voltage blue GIS portfolio, which reflects our commitment to F-gas-free, environmentally friendly, and highly reliable grid infrastructure. In parallel, we’ll highlight how our grid software and consulting services are empowering utilities to optimise operations, enhance resilience, and accelerate decarbonisation for the autonomous grid of tomorrow.

 A key focus will be our Electrification X portfolio, which combines the real and digital worlds. Through use cases, we’ll illustrate how Siemens enables intelligent load management, smart asset performance through predictive analytics, and robust cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure.

If you had a magic wand what is one thing you would implement today?

 If I had a magic wand, I would go back in time, armed with all the knowledge and technological measures we possess today, and reverse the global warming clock. It would be an opportunity to prevent the climate crisis from reaching its current critical point, allowing us to build a sustainable future from a position of strength rather than urgency.