10. Clean energy- the only way! Professor Peter Lund from Aalto University in Finland and professor Gatis Bažbauers from Riga Technical University

Ilgtspējīgās pasaules / Sustainable Worlds

The Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia in cooperation with the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment of the Riga Technical University offering a series of podcasts “Sustainable Worlds”.

The newest podcast episode is focused on the challenges and opportunities sustainable energy will feature. Professor Peter Lund from Aalto University in Finland and professor Gatis Bažbauers from Riga Technical University in Latvia will reflect on topic about sustainable energy. Discussion is moderated by Dr. Kārlis Valters form the Riga Technical University.

Currently, most of the energy in the world is produced from fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide emissions are causing climate change, which may lead to natural disasters, large numbers of climate refugees, climate wars and other catastrophic consequences. How will future generations look at the period in the history of the civilization, when energy was obtained by burning fossil fuels? What must be done? What can be done?

What are sustainable energy systems? How can societies transfer to low- to zero-carbon economy? Is it going to be “a revolution” or “an evolution”? What role will big data and artificial intelligence play? What are the current and future energy questions and solutions? What are the most promising technologies? What is the future of wind and solar energy? How can nanotechnologies be applied in the energy sector? What is a “prosumer” of energy? How will households look in 2030 regarding energy consumption (and production)? How will cities produce and consume energy in the future? What is the future of electric cars?

Some of the brightest minds are engaged in seeking answers to these and other questions and searching for sustainable solutions to our growing energy needs. However, more talent is needed. “We need more scientists than we currently have,” says Gatis Bažbauers. What does it take to be a scientist? What can a career in science offer?