Summary

Why is it so hard to switch to clean energy?

Humans need energy, and lots of it. Coal, oil and gas currently meet the vast majority of these needs, but they are finite resources and significantly contribute to our ever-warming climate.

In a post-fossil-fuel-future it’s going to take more than a couple of solar panels on everyone’s roofs to meet the energy needs of a growing global population.

Exactly how we reach renewable-energy targets, carbon neutrality or zero net emissions is yet to be determined. But there are bright minds and socially responsible corporations working alongside universities, private organisations and the public service to manifest such a future through creative thinking and remarkable innovation.

Buildings clad in solar materials and all transportation completely pipe free are some of the big ideas. How will these work and how can the world can successfully transition away from traditional energy sources?

A (solar) panel of energy experts explore the path to a sustainable energy future and reveal some of the ground-breaking solutions that just might save our planet.

Running the Planet without Costing the Earth is presented with QUT

FEATURING

Alexander Colsmann

Speaker

Alexander Colsmann

Alexander Colsmann is the spokesperson of the KIT Energy Center at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany, representing 1800 scientists working on all aspects of modern energy research....

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Cathy Van Extel

Moderator

Cathy Van Extel

Cathy Van Extel is a journalist with more than 25 years experience in radio reporting, presenting and documentary making. She is a senior reporter/producer with ABC Radio National Breakfast and...

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Fanny Boulaire

Speaker

Fanny Boulaire

Dr Fanny Boulaire is a senior research fellow in the Science and Engineering Faculty at QUT. Her research interests center around the integration of new technologies for the production of...

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Richard Taylor

Speaker

Richard Taylor

Associate Professor Richard Taylor, currently in the School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics within the Queensland University of Technology’s Faculty of Engineering, conducts significant industrial research linked to the energy/power...

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Michelle Taylor

Speaker

Michelle Taylor

Michelle is an electrical engineer working in new energy technologies including solar photovoltaics, batteries and smart devices that manage how we use energy. She is part of Energy Queensland's power...

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