Planet Classroom and VoiceAmerica Launch New "Net Zero Speaks" Podcast: "We Have Everything We Need": Solar Pioneer Andrew Blakers Says the World Already Has the Technology for a 100% Clean Energy Future
Australian National University professor and co-inventor of PERC solar cell technology joins youth host Ivan Ransom to explain why the clean-energy transition is no longer a technological challenge—it is a matter of action.
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The transition to clean energy is no longer constrained by technology—it is purely a matter of execution.
The Planet Classroom Network, in partnership with VoiceAmerica, today announces the podcast release of Net Zero Speaks to Andrew Blakers. Hosted by youth climate advocate Ivan Ransom, this briefing features Professor Andrew Blakers AO FAA FTSE FRSN of the Australian National University, one of the world's leading renewable energy researchers and co-developer of the PERC solar cell technology used in much of today's global solar industry.
At the heart of the discussion is an unequivocal message: the world already possesses the technology required to run on 100 percent renewable energy.
"We have everything we need," Blakers explains. "We don't need to invent anything. It's just a matter of getting out and doing it."
A VISION FOR CHEAP, CLEAN ENERGY FOREVER
Throughout the conversation, Blakers outlines a global future powered by what he calls "clean, cheap energy forever," noting that "most countries are their own Saudi Arabia of solar and wind."
Drawing on decades of research, he demonstrates how solar power, wind energy, pumped hydro storage, batteries, and electrification technologies can seamlessly integrate to create reliable, affordable, zero-carbon energy systems at scale worldwide.
A GLOBAL VOICE ON RENEWABLE INNOVATION
Professor Blakers is internationally recognized for helping develop the Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) solar cell—a breakthrough that dramatically increased solar panel efficiency, transformed the modern solar industry, and accelerated the dramatic decline in solar energy costs globally.
Today, Blakers leads research on large-scale renewable energy systems and the Global Pumped Hydro Atlas, which identifies hundreds of thousands of potential energy storage sites capable of supporting fully renewable electricity grids.
Key insights highlighted in the episode include:
- The Scale of Solar & Wind: Why most nations possess more than enough renewable resources to achieve total energy independence.
- Overcoming Misconceptions: Tackling persistent myths regarding land use, raw materials, grid stability, and waste management.
- Deep Decarbonization: How governments, utilities, and communities can achieve deep decarbonization while maintaining lower energy costs and grid reliability.
FROM SOLAR PANELS TO "GRAVITY BATTERIES"
A central focus of the episode is solving the energy storage puzzle. Blakers explains how pumped hydro systems—often described as giant "gravity batteries"—store renewable energy by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations.
His team's research identified approximately 820,000 potential pumped hydro sites globally, offering vastly more storage capacity than needed for a fully renewable energy future. The discussion explores how these systems balance solar and wind generation while maintaining grid reliability and affordability.
"Professor Blakers reminds us that many of the critical solutions we need already exist," said C. M. (Cathy) Rubin, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet Classroom. "Understanding that we already have the tools to solve these challenges is empowering for young people. The challenge now is accelerating action and building the political and social will to implement them globally."
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
Net Zero Speaks to Andrew Blakers premieres September 16, 2026, on VoiceAmerica and major podcast platforms via the Planet Classroom Network.
CREDITS
- Host: Ivan Ransom
- Guest: Professor Andrew Blakers
- Producer/Editor: Sam Sullivan
- Production Coordinator: Sam Burns
- Art Direction: Emily Brooks
About Net Zero Speaks
Net Zero Speaks is Planet Classroom's acclaimed climate interview series produced in partnership with the Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement. Through conversations between youth climate leaders and leading scientists, policymakers, innovators, and environmental experts, the series explores the solutions, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the global transition to net zero.
About the Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement
The Protect Our Planet (POP) Movement mobilizes young people worldwide to advance climate solutions, support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and protect threatened ecosystems through education, advocacy, and youth engagement.
About VoiceAmerica
VoiceAmerica Media is a pioneer in digital broadcasting and a leading producer, distributor, and online network for original talk radio and podcast programming worldwide. Reaching millions of listeners monthly in over 140 countries across themed channels, VoiceAmerica empowers global creators, experts, and visionaries to educate, entertain, and inspire. Through strategic partnerships, VoiceAmerica provides an impactful global platform for world-changing conversations and youth-led media.
SOURCE Planet Classroom Network
Share this article