As we began work on the book, our very different scientific backgrounds quickly became obvious. Tackling energy challenges from our own perspectives showed us how much our training shapes the questions we ask and the solutions we see. It also made one thing clear: bringing together multiple disciplines opens insights that no single field can provide. As in nature, including human life, cross-pollination of ideas enriches any venture transforming solitary effort into outcomes that are more than just sum of its parts. The achievable solution naturally becomes much more robust and resilient. This observation was at the heart of our journey in co-editing and -writing our open access book Renewable Energy Systems Within Planetary Boundaries: A Textbook for Energy Engineers, published with Springer in 2025. The observation also pointed us to one of the guiding principles of our book: while no engineer can master everything in detail, every engineer should understand the fundamental limits our planet places on human activity.
Engineering in the era of Anthropocene
Engineers play a big role in shaping our societies, so it is no trivial of how they view or understand sustainability. Socio-ecological sustainability requires expertise that goes beyond a single discipline and typical engineering curricula. Wicked problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss are deeply intertwined, and we need approaches where solutions in one area doesn’t create new challenges elsewhere, for example, expanding renewable energy projects in ways that reduce carbon emissions without destroying critical habitats or fragmenting ecosystems, ensuring that one solution doesn’t become a new problem for biodiversity.
This is where education and interdisciplinary collaboration become crucial. We wanted to bring together the best available knowledge on sustainable energy systems, especially for engineering students who will be at the frontline of designing and implementing energy transition. Our book covers the technical possibilities of wind, solar, bioenergy, and heat pumps, but also their ecological, social, and economic implications.
A Shift in Thinking
Albert Einstein once said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” The energy transition is not just about new technologies or innovations; it requires also a profound change in mindset. A fundamental mind shift is needed to reshape the way we live so that we stay within planetary boundaries. This requires also new technologies, but above all, it requires fresh visions of energy futures, supportive policies and legal frameworks, and planning systems that enable truly sustainable solutions.
Our hope is that the book inspires enthusiasm for collaborative learning and knowledge sharing. We want readers to see renewable energy not as a single technical solution, but as an enabler of a broader transformation, one that acknowledges ecological limits and social justice.
Why Open Access Mattered
We wanted the book to have maximum impact and reach as widely as possible, which made Open Access a natural choice. The climate and biodiversity crises are not problems for academics alone; they affect policymakers, practitioners, businesses, and communities worldwide. Knowledge locked behind paywalls can’t shape action.
Open Access ensures that ours and our co-authors insights are available to those who most need them: young engineers, the true change makers, but also people in power; those who develop technologies, implement solutions on the ground, or shape policies. In many parts of the world, institutions cannot afford expensive subscriptions. By publishing openly, we hope to lower the barriers to learning and empower a much wider audience.
As academics, we see this as part of our responsibility. Just as cross-pollination benefits plants, sharing knowledge freely accelerates innovation and widens the circle of collaboration. We invite readers, students, and colleagues alike to join us in this global conversation.
Hanna Paulomäki and Mika Järvinen are at the Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. They are the editors and co-authors of the textbook, Renewable Energy Systems Within Planetary Boundaries: A Textbook for Energy Engineers, published in May 2025.