By Hinako Sugawara, Amelia Lindsay-Kaufman, and Ellie Wang

Renewable energy sources are now cheaper to produce than fossil fuels and emit significantly less carbon, making them essential to achieving SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy). At the same time, expanding energy options helps people secure reliable energy access, supporting resilience and contributing to SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

The following three case studies demonstrate the potential for renewable energy sources in supporting energy independence and resilience, bringing benefits beyond environmental considerations. With many countries experiencing increased risks of political conflict and natural hazards, the acceleration of the green transition is critical to achieving reliable energy access. We therefore recommend that policymakers advocate for energy diversification not just to meet climate goals, but to ensure energy security whatever challenges we may face going forward.

Renewable energy provides wartime resilience for Ukraine

Since the 2022 invasion, the Russian Federation has taken advantage of the vulnerable nature of coal power plants to weaponize energy access by targeting Ukraine’s energy sector. Daily power blackouts have threatened critical services like water treatment, healthcare, and heating.

This crisis has prompted a move towards energy independence, as solar and wind power can be decentralized and established quickly, making these resources more reliable during wartime conditions. Since the 2022 invasion, Ukraine has added over 3 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity. Individuals and small businesses are installing generators and solar panels, and, on a larger scale, cities and local governments are investing in wind and solar farms, which are decentralized rather than single targets, and can continue to function even when partly damaged.

“It’s a security-driven transformation, unfolding under extreme constraints, that prioritizes decentralization, flexibility, and speed of recovery,” said Ievgeniia Kopytsia, energy analyst at the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility. Ukraine is demonstrating the liability of a fossil fuel-dominated energy grid, and showing that incorporation of green energy sources can provide a formidable defense strategy.

Building renewable energy systems in small and medium economies in oil crises

Access to renewable energy sources allows low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to avoid severe economic disturbance during times of global instability. Recent conflict in Iran has disrupted the supply chains through the strait of Hormuz, diminishing global oil supply by 20%. In LMICs such as the Philippines and Nigeria, the price of diesel skyrocketed, increasing 81.6% and 65.5%, respectively, since late February. Schools in Sri Lanka and Pakistan shifted to a four-day week due to lacking fuel supplies. Low-income groups have struggled to access traditional energy.

Renewable energy could insulate the global economy from the effects of the crisis. According to Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy at Oxford University, “electricity generated from wind and solar is largely insulated from fossil fuel price volatility – once built, the fuel is free.” The necessity of building large-scale clean energy systems in LMICs is becoming more urgent, not only for offering affordable energy to domestic consumers but also for increasing their resilience to external shocks. Energy security is vital for LMICs to stabilize economic justice and social equality amid global strategic rivalry.

Natural disaster resilience in island countries

Green energy is also promising for strengthening community resilience by facilitating fast disaster responses and advancing equitable energy access in the aftermath of disasters, particularly for island countries. Curaçao, a Caribbean island that was severely affected by Hurricane Melissa in 2025, exemplifies this transition. It is increasingly turning to renewable microgrids to strengthen energy security and reduce external supply vulnerabilities.

Microgrids are a smaller-scale grid system that employs consumer generators, such as household solar panels, and energy storage. Unlike conventional large-scale power stations, which require hundreds of miles of transmission lines, customers connected to microgrids consume locally produced electricity. This distributed design effectively reaches vulnerable communities, reducing inequalities (SDG 10), and enables damaged components to be repaired independently, facilitating faster infrastructure recovery. This example shows that green energy is an essential component of emergency preparedness.

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Hinako Sugawara is an MA student in International Development Studies, Amelia Lindsay-Kaufman is an MA student in Environmental and Sustainability Policy, and Ellie Wang is an MPP student concentrating on environmental policy and conservation at The George Washington University.