Podcast appearances and mentions of andrew blakers

"I've done the sums. All we need is 1,200 square kilometres. That's not much. The area devoted to agriculture is about 3,500 times larger at 4.2 million square kilometres. The area of land that would be taken away from agriculture works out at about 45 square metres per person – about the size of a large living room. "We can ditch fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse emissions with negligible impact on agriculture. And, in many cases, farmers can be paid for hosting renewable energy infrastructure while continuing to run sheep and cows or grow crops." So says a Professor of Engineering from the Australian National University, Professor Andrew Blakers (pictured), in an article published in The Conversation: "No threat to farmland: just 1,200 square kilometres can fulfil Australia's solar and wind energy needs". Professor Blakers visited Mooroopna, just across the Goulburn River from Shepparton, several years ago as one of about three speakers at a climate change forum organised by the Shepparton-based group, "Slap Tomorrow". The convenor of Zero Carbon Tatura, Terry Court, also on the Goulburn Valley-based GV Community Energy board, joined me for the conversation with Professor Blakers. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-mclean/message

Andrew Blakers is professor of Engineering at the Australian National University.  He is an expert in the economics of the renewable energy revolution currently underway and lead inventor of global market leading PERC silicon cell solar energy technology.  

Beyond Zero speaks to Andrew Blakers, Professor in Engineering at the Australian National University about pumped hydro energy storage and international renewables. 

Professor Andrew Blakers (pictured) from Canberra's Australian National University is an informed advocate of solar power and has written about that on The Conversation in a piece entitled: "Really Australia, it's not that hard: 10 reasons why renewable energy is the future".In a relatively short story, in which he makes just 10 points, the professor explains how Australia can remove most all its carbon dioxide emissions and totally eliminate fossil fuels from the country's energy agenda.Self-interest, he explains, is the one issue that is standing between us and a near emissions-free future.

TATHRA- CLEAN ENERGY FOR ETERNITYApril 1st 2019Presenter: Vivien Langford , Producer: Adelle MillsGuests: Dr Matthew Nott- Clean Energy for EternityCouncillor Jo Dodds- Bega  Valley CouncilProfessor Andrew Blakers- ANUDr John HewsonLynn Mc Coll- Chamber of CommerceVIvien travels a long way  to Tathra in NSW to find out about the Bega Valley 100% renewable energy plan for 2030. Four Corners was also there.https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/climate-energy-battles-abc-four-corners/The crowd in the local school voted overwhelmingly for the plan with one dissenter who said bring it on by 2025! The story of regional regeneration through renewable energy is thrilling. Andrew Blakers shows us where pumped hydro ponds could be built in the hills around the Bega Valley.He says Australia is fast becoming a Renewable Energy Superstar. We will have 50% installed  in 5 years and 100% by 2031. John Hewson is appalled at the delay tactics in Canberra and said it was a relief to be here on the cutting edge. We were far away from those contemplating new coal fired power, new coal mines and new gas and it was refreshing.Lynn Mc Coll from the Chamber of Commerce explains how  bio digesters on dairy farms and tonnes of oyster shells are a carbon rich eco resource. Dr Matthew Nott talks up  the local jobs and how the transition will stimulate commerce. He says he detects a mood for change in regional Australia and rebewables offer economic opportunity. He has the big vision and a way of engaging multitudes. Councillor Jo Dodds talks about healing the pain in Tathra after the 2018 bushfire. She famously told then PM M.Turnbull that "this  has everything to do with climate change".https://cleanenergyforeternity.net.auSapphiecoast.com.au  

A report from Professor Andrew Blakers and his team at the Australian National University (ANU) suggests that Australia will meet its economy-wide Paris commitments five years ahead of schedule if, and that's important, politics doesn't disrupt the burgeoning move to renewable energy.Some have questioned the ANU report, but most acknowledge the caveat that politics doesn't necessarily have to support the push to renewable energy rather, not stand in its way by introducing policies that frustrate the introduction and use of primarily solar and wind power.Professor Blakers says that just like smoking, our fossil fuel powered energy infrastructure must go.

ANU’s Andrew Blakers and GE’s Bill Armstrong on the future of pumped hydro in Australia. Where and when will it be built?

BZE speaks to Prof Andrew Blakers from ANU about using pumped hydro energy storage to enable an 100% renewable energy grid; comprising of PV, wind, pumped hydro and stronger interconnectors between the states.

Andrew Blakers is a Professor in Engineering at the Australian National University. His R&D focuses on solar photovoltaics and he talks about how PV and wind can dominate the Australian energy to achieve upwards of 90% renewables by 2030.