Green.org sits down with Richard Romanowski, co-founder of Planet Ark Power, to learn more about the technology they invented and how humans are capable of generating enough energy to power the planet.
Tell us a little bit about you and your background:
My Co-Founder and I set out to help save the Great Barrier Reef in 2012 and do our part to address Climate Change. We invented a technology that allows for a 10 to 13 times increase in renewables into the local grid at little or no cost to the distribution grid, hence no tariff rises. In effect a much better utilisation of the $ Trillions invested globally in local poles and wires. We had retired but started again, investing $7 m USD of our our $ and now other investors at $20 m ++ USD. In 2019 we won the World Energy Council (WEC) global cleantech start-up award. The Secretary General of the WEC at the time said to me, “This eleXsys technology is game changing, we (society) needs you to think 100 times bigger to help address Climate Change”. So that is what we are doing….going global as fast as possible, we appreciate all the help we can get.
What is a fun fact about you?
Did you know that if we filled 50% to 100% of every rooftop across the global sunbelt with solar panels, supported by batteries, we can generate all the clean energy we need? That vision is my fun. Plus, I am Canadian born but my lovely Australian wife brought me to Australia over 32 years ago. I still have my Canadian accent and can’t say G’Day quite right!
Why do you think climate change and sustainability is such an important topic today?
We most likely have already lost one of our world lungs, the Great Barrier Reef! I am doing eleXsys for my kids and grand kids so they can survive hopefully in a clean energy world. Its the fist time humanity is experiencing from one generation to the next the direct impact of our environmental degradation and disrespect. The usual, mother nature will survive Climate Change but will humanity as we know it?
What do you envision your industry looking like 10 years from now?
Hopefully with eleXsys type technologies, our cites are powered by clean energy generated and stored in our local communities, supported by some solar farms and wind farms. That is, society cannot wait or afford for the building of enough new Transmission Lines along with more solar and wind farms to deliver 1.5 degrees. Doing so also uses valuable farming land we need for food. Why not use all those vacant rooftops?
What can the average person do to make a difference?
Vote for candidates with climate change supportive action and policies. Plus rooftop solar, replace gas with heat pumps and efficient electric appliances and an electric car (not to mention use public transport). Plus eat less meat.
