THE ENERGY TRANSITION

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on oil infrastructure in the Middle East mark the second major oil shock in the last five years. Rising fuel costs have focused attention on energy security and reliability for many people and nations. IEA’s Fatih Birol has called the Iran conflict the biggest energy crisis in history. However, unlike the 1970s, there are now cost-effective alternatives. The world is moving from fossil fuels to renewables, batteries, and heat pumps. We are in the difficult mid-transition phase where fossil fuels still provide most energy, but future trends are clear. There are many reasons to change, including climate change, pollution, health, security, and cost. Over 80% of the required solutions are already available and are now cheaper over their lifetime than fossil fuel equivalents. Change is happening across the world, sometimes in surprising places.

In Aotearoa, we are one of the first countries to reach a tipping point where people can save money by electrifying homes and vehicles, if appropriate financing is available. We also need to ensure everyone can benefit from these changes. This two-week course will cover solar, wind, batteries, and fossil fuels, and discuss how the world is responding to rising energy costs and fuel insecurity — and what this means for Aotearoa.