BBC World News to Air Episode 8: Fuel for Thought of HORIZONS Series, 6/27 and 6/29

The world burns 2.5 million barrels of oil every day just to power car headlights. Figures like this illustrate the huge need to find highly productive energy sources that don't emit toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases. Global energy consumption is on the rise and making a long-term break from oil, gas and coal is also a long way off; but new ideas, new sources and new ways of utilising energy need to be looked at if we are to meet demand.

In this episode of Horizons, Adam Shaw hops aboard the latest incarnation of an electric bus in the South Korean city of Gumi. Here they've developed a system which allows the vehicles to be charged wirelessly. This innovation will save the bus company a small fortune in fuel costs and provide a greener alternative to diesel and petrol powered buses, all without the mess of wires and chargers normally associated with electric vehicles.

In Northern California, Akiko Fujita finds out how geothermal energy can be tapped into using a technique called hydro-shearing. The company Alta Rock energy says they've finally found a way of making this cost-effective now the geysers are creating less energy naturally.

300 miles from the Indian coast in Bangalore, reporter Shaili Chopra discovers how an inland company is harvesting seaweed to make a biomass fuel using the macro algae. They say there's more room to harvest seaweed in the ocean than using inland waterways to farm micro algae.

We also have an update on the world's most expensive Science experiment - a nuclear Fusion reactor. While construction is currently underway in France we visit one of the locations that are trialling experiments that will help with its creation. Finally at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in the UK, we hear how, if they can master nuclear Fusion it could, be the answer to most of the world's fuel problems.

About Series

Horizons examines the innovations and technologies that could change the way we live and work in the coming decades.

The fourth series of Horizons explores the technologies and innovations that could transform the way we live our lives over the next few decades. Where will the breakthroughs come from to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the planet? Cheaper, cleaner energy, enough food and water for a growing population, cities that work and advances in medicine that allow people to live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Each programme will take one major topic and explore from different viewpoints and multi-locations with presenter Adam Shaw interviewing experts in their field - whether a CEO, scientist or opinion former. Destinations in this series include South Korea, US, Africa, India.

Show website: http://www.bbc.com/specialfeatures/horizonsbusiness/

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