E6: Here comes the sun
Abstract
This Podcast is inspired by Sustainable Development Goal #7: Affordable and Clean energy. One of the main goals of this podcast is to explore whether solar power is indeed a better and more economically-sound option for society in the long-term, if it is being championed for its positive environmental impact or both. In this podcast, we talk about the Sustainable Development Goals – how they came about, who created them, and what their purpose is for the world. Additionally, it also consists of discussions on how people are slowly making the transition to renewable and alternative sources of energy, more specifically maximizing the power of the sun to provide electricity for homes, such as installing solar panels, and making solar power accessible to other social groups such as rural, off-grid communities. Listeners of the podcast will be able to gain in-depth knowledge on how solar energy is being adapted in Belgium, India, and in the Philippines, and this is presented through interviews with individuals who are able to give varying perspectives on the transition to solar power. Our invited guests consist of: a) two homeowners in Belgium (one who is considering installing solar panels for their home and another one who already has a solar-powered home), b) owner of a solar panel installation company in Spain, and c) a former Country Head of One Million Lights (NGO based in the Philippines that distributes micro solar panels to rural areas).
References
Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015). United Nations https://sdgs.un.org/publications/transforming-our-world-2030-agenda-sustainable-development-17981
Goals 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.United Nations/ Department of Economic and Social Affairs/ Sustainable development https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7
Stakeholders Thematic E-Consultation for the United Nations High-level Dialogue on Energy
Summary Report (2021). Department of Economic and Social Affairs / DSDG https://sdgs.un.org/publications/stakeholders-thematic-e-consultation-HLDE-summary-report
Access to electricity; Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking; Electricity use per capita; Energy use per capita (2021). http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators
Christina Nunez (2020). Renewable Energy Explained. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/renewable-energy-explained/
Understand the Sun! 27 Fantastic Facts About Solar Energy and Solar Panels (2020). Chariot energy. https://chariotenergy.com/chariot-university/solar-energy-solar-panels-facts/
Belgium’s strongest year ever for solar: more than 1 GW installed in 2020 (2020). Solar power Europe. https://www.solarpowereurope.org/belgiums-strongest-year-ever-for-solar-more-than-1-gw-installed-in-2020/
Annual Report 2020-2021: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. MNRE Annual Report 2020_Changes File_18.03.201.indd https://mnre.gov.in/img/documents/uploads/file_f-1618564141288.pdf
Constanza Parra (2013). Social sustainability: a competing concept to social innovation? International Handbook on Social Innovation, p142-152; Moulaert print.indd
Credits
Podcast Guests:
Paulina Ocampo, NGO – One Million Lights
Mario Martinez Gali – IDALIA ENERGY
Doyeon Kim, Citizen of Brussels
Music:
Free music from FinalCut pro: “Dolce Vita” and “Acoustic Sunrise”