Frank Asbeck, a pioneer in the German solar industry and founder of SolarWorld AG, emphasizes the potential of solar energy to address our energy challenges. His insights into energy policy are sought after across political parties. In this work, he illustrates how solar energy can shape our future while benefiting the environment, climate, and economy. The drawbacks of fossil fuels—resource scarcity, environmental destruction, and climate harm—are evident. These energy sources also create dependency on large corporations and undemocratic regimes, making them unaffordable for developing countries. Asbeck argues that a sustainable and socially just energy supply must rely on renewable sources, dismissing nuclear power due to unresolved waste disposal issues. The advantages of solar energy are clear: the raw materials for solar modules, sun and sand, are inexhaustible. Solar cells generate more energy in their first year than is required for their production, and soon, solar power will be cheaper than conventional energy. It has no ecological downsides and operates independently of power grids and fuels, making it an ideal source for a decentralized, ecological, and equitable electricity supply. Germany, led by pioneers like Asbeck, is at the forefront of this future technology.
