Paris: Due to the plummeting prices of renewable energy, it is now easier than ever before to convince policymakers and corporations that investing in this alternative power source is in their best interest, audience members in Paris heard today.
Speaking at the Re-Energising the Future Renewable Energy Track taking place on the sidelines of the UN Climate Conference (COP21), Betrand Piccard, the co-founder of the historic Solar Impulse, spoke to Gulf News about the current status and future of renewable energy.
“I believe that you have a minority of people who are altruistic, are compassionate about the world and want quality of life to become better. But the majority of people are much more driven by fame and money. So if you want to really improve the state of the world you have to give these people the opportunity to get fame and money and today it’s possible with renewable energy and clean technology,” he said.
“This is because doing so is profitable, builds a good reputation and makes companies who go into that [direction] much more recognised. Before, this could not have worked because renewable energy and clean technology was much more expensive and used mainly by people who were much more altruistic. Today if you want to make a good business you go into renewable energy and energy saving technology,” he added.
The Solar Impulse is a solar-powered plane that took off from Abu Dhabi in March with the aim of travelling the world. It will restart its journey in March next year to complete the round trip back to the UAE. Piccard was one of the pilots.
“There are two futures of solar impulse — one is to continue to inspire businessmen, leaders and the industry to take that direction of fighting climate change and clean technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy. We are also working on Solar Impulse III with no pilot flying 20km high, GPS guidance so it can fly high up in the sky without disturbing anybody and providing GSM connection, telephones, Wi-Fi, infrared pictures for agriculture,” he said.
Currently only satellites and land antennas are capable of doing what the solar impulse does, Piccard revealed.
“The critics of solar impulse are 100 years too late because even in the days of the Wright Brothers there were critics,” he refuted.
Coming from a background of Psychiatry, Piccard said he had used his knowledge and experience to self-hyptonise when he was on board to achieve better sleep and to understand how to motivate people when talking to them about renewable energy.
“When the first solar-powered passenger plane launches, I will be the on board the first flight teaching passengers how to practice self-hypnosis for long-haul flights,” Piccard revealed.
