--- description: Find out why Taner Karacan is on TIME's 2025 list of the 100 most influential leaders driving business climate action. title: Taner Karacan: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4473981ad20c26e9/6998cb019fbc7c4b6ad9a8c9/Innovators-Taner-Karacan.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- Oct 30, 2025 # Taner Karacan Managing Director, Svea Solar Germany and Belgium by Taner Karacan  Photo-Illustration by TIME (Courtesy Photo) _Taner Karacan oversees operations in Germany and Belgium for Svea Solar, one of Europe’s leading solar companies. He has played a key role in deepening the firm’s longstanding relationship with global home furnishing giant IKEA. This year IKEA began selling Svea Solar’s affordable_ [_plug-in balcony solar panels_](https://sveasolar.com/en/press/Balcony-solar-IKEA "undefined") _in Germany, with ambitions to expand into other countries, a move that could bring modular home solar into the mainstream and give consumers easy access to energy independence._ **What is the single most important action you think the public, or a specific company or government, needs to take in the next year to advance the climate agenda?** Governments must radically accelerate grid expansion and simplify permitting. The technology is ready—solar, storage, heat pump, and EV charging can scale at speed—and people are eager to adopt them. But without a stronger, smarter grid and faster processes, the transition will stall. If policymakers remove these barriers, businesses and citizens will do the rest, and Germany will stay competitive in the global energy transition. **What is a climate solution that isn't getting the attention or funding it deserves?** Virtual power plants are one of the key climate solutions. By connecting distributed solar, batteries, and EV chargers, we can balance supply and demand, reduce fossil-fuel backup, and make households active participants in the energy system. Scaling this model could become a cornerstone of a fully renewable future. **What gives you hope about the future of the planet?** I remain hopeful because innovation and commitment are accelerating. Solar, storage, and electric mobility are becoming mainstream, and more citizens, companies, and governments are embracing real solutions every day. Systemic change is happening—faster than most people realize. It is accessible and affordable for the many. **If you could stand up and talk to world leaders at the next COP, what would you say?** The technology for a clean future exists, and people are ready to act. World leaders must remove barriers, simplify regulations, and invest in infrastructure so solar and smart energy can scale fast. Let’s empower businesses and citizens—the solutions are already in our hands. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://time.com/collections/time-100-climate-2025/7326562/taner-karacan/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/collections/time-100-climate-2025/7326562/taner-karacan/"},"headline":"Taner Karacan","datePublished":"2025-10-30T11:30:16.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-03T01:01:19.433Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/collections/time-100-climate-2025/7326562/taner-karacan/","keywords":["TIME100 Climate 2025","list","franchise","Magazine","Special Project","sponsorshipblock","Accolades"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4473981ad20c26e9/6998cb019fbc7c4b6ad9a8c9/Innovators-Taner-Karacan.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Staff","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/time-staff/"}],"creator":"TIME Staff","articleSection":"Climate","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4473981ad20c26e9/6998cb019fbc7c4b6ad9a8c9/Innovators-Taner-Karacan.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/climate/","name":"Climate"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time100-climate-2025/","name":"TIME100 Climate 2025"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/collections/time-100-climate-2025/7326562/taner-karacan/","name":"Taner Karacan"}}]}] ```