Solar Pioneer Andrew Blakers: The 100% Clean Energy Future Is Here

In a new episode of the Net Zero Speaks series, hosted by youth advocate Ivan Ransom, Blakers asserts that most nations possess the natural resources to become their own energy superpowers. By integrating solar and wind generation with pumped hydro storage—which he describes as giant gravity batteries—nations can maintain reliable, affordable grids without relying on fossil fuels. His research, including the Global Pumped Hydro Atlas, identifies over 800,000 potential storage sites worldwide, far exceeding the capacity needed for a fully renewable global infrastructure.

Blakers remains a central figure in the field, having pioneered the Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell technology that catalyzed the global drop in solar costs. His appearance on the Planet Classroom Network aims to bridge the gap between complex scientific viability and public perception, directly addressing common concerns regarding land use, waste, and grid stability. As Planet Classroom CEO Cathy Rubin notes, the series serves to provide young climate leaders with direct access to the experts defining the net-zero transition, emphasizing that the tools for change are already in our hands.