Nanostructured and nanosized materials are widely applied to tackle the pressing challenges associated with energy conversion. In this conceptual review, rather than highlighting separate examples, we aim to give a general overview about where and how nanostructure design can be beneficial in the three major research fields (photo)thermal chemical energy conversion, electrochemical energy conversion, and solar energy conversion. It will be shown that in many cases the design of catalytically active nanostructures is the main task and that especially for catalysts nanostructure and activity are inseparably linked to each other. Moreover, electrochemical and photochemical processes are complicated by the overlap of multiple processes that all need to be optimized, including in particular light absorption, charge migration, recombination and trapping events and surface processes. It will also be shown how the development of materials for new challenges can often be based on our knowledge on existing materials for related applications.