Global energy crisis: Inside Australia's renewable energy transition

In this episode of Better Than Yesterday, host Osher Günsberg explores Australia's renewable energy transition through a powerful conversation with Professor Alastair Sproul, a pioneering solar engineer and former head of the University of New South Wales School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. Sproul shares his decades-long journey in solar innovation, highlighting Australia's foundational role in developing PERC solar cell technology, which now powers over 80% of global solar modules. The episode centers on the economic inevitability of renewables, illustrated by Sproul’s personal decision to install solar panels and buy an electric vehicle—resulting in $1,500 annual fuel savings with a $2,000 upfront investment. Günsberg contrasts this with the current political and media noise around energy policy, emphasizing that the economic case for renewables is now undeniable, even to conservative institutions. He underscores how companies like UNSW are signing power purchase agreements for 100% renewable electricity at lower costs than fossil fuel alternatives, signaling a market-driven shift. The episode concludes with a message of hope: Australia’s youth, engineers, and innovators are already building the future, proving that the energy transition is not just theoretical but already transforming lives—from farmers reducing irrigation costs to students leading global clean energy projects.