The 10 most influential energy and climate inventors
Ten physical energy technologies distinguished by adoption, category change, or infrastructure-scale potential.
The 2026 selection
Ranked within energy & climate using evidence of physical-world reach, a defining technical contribution, sustained relevance and source quality. Open any profile to inspect the underlying evidence.
- 01
The Nobel Prize credits his work as the first functional lithium battery and a starting point for the rechargeable-battery revolution.
Profile + sources - 02
The Nobel Prize recognized his lithium-ion-battery development and its role in portable electronics and electric vehicles.
Profile + sources - 03
Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are crucial to a wide range of high-tech applications.
Profile + sources - 04
PERC is documented as widely adopted across commercial solar manufacturing.
Profile + sources - 05
The Grätzel cell launched a new photovoltaic technology.
Profile + sources - 06
Her flexible perovskite solar cells won both the 2024 SMEs award and the Popular Prize.
Profile + sources - 07
His lithium-ion electrode inventions serve power tools, grid storage, and electric vehicles.
Profile + sources - 08
Several gigawatt-hours of all-vanadium flow storage have been installed.
Profile + sources - 09
The liquid-metal battery was recognized by Time and developed for grid-level storage.
Profile + sources - 10
Denmark
Henrik Stiesdal
Three-blade, pitch-controlled wind turbine and direct-drive offshore turbine hardwareHis wind-turbine systems are now present in almost all modern wind turbines.
Profile + sources