The global solar revolution – the solar age begins

Climate change deniers seem to be gaining ground at the moment – not only through Donald Trump in the US, but also through German Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and the AfD party.

But at the same time, we are currently experiencing a global boom in renewable energies. As described in the new book “The Solar World Revolution – The Dawn of a New Era for Humanity,” renewables can no longer be stopped by anyone; they are economically unbeatable and available in almost infinite quantities.

This week’s SPIEGEL “Climate Report” describes the numerous current advances:

• First: Emissions trading is finally working. The German government took in more than €18 billion last year as a result. This is the main reason why CO₂ emissions in Germany have fallen by 54 percent since 2005. As a result, coal and oil are becoming increasingly uneconomical and renewable energies increasingly cheaper. Permanently rising emission prices are making fossil fuels more and more expensive. By 2026 at the latest, old energies will become really expensive again.
• Secondly: Wind power is growing strongly. Onshore wind power is cheaper than offshore wind power. In the first half of 2025, 409 new wind turbines were installed in Germany. That is 67 percent more than in the same period last year. Not only the sun, but also the wind does not send a bill. This energy resource is a free and environmentally friendly gift from nature. The number of permits for new wind turbines has also reached a new record high in 2025. This trend is set to continue.
• Thirdly: In 2025, the number of electric cars registered in Germany also reached a new record high. In Germany alone, 250,000 new electric cars were registered. That is 36 percent more than in the same period last year.
• Fourthly: Opposition to Reiche’s gas expansion plans is growing. The main reason: Not only coal, but also gas is becoming increasingly uneconomical. Reiche must prove to the EU that 20 new gas-fired power plants really need to be built in Germany, as planned and propagated by her. Most experts consider this number to be greatly exaggerated. Reiche’s plans could fail at the EU Commission.
• Fifth: Cities and municipalities are now employing more and more climate protection managers. They are demanding more and more safe bike lanes and providing advice on how to achieve this, while at the same time calling for fewer parking spaces, traffic-calmed zones, and community gardens. According to SPIEGEL information, up to 3,000 climate managers will be working in Germany by mid-2025—another success story for climate protection.

The trick that the new Minister for Economic Affairs, Reiche, is trying to pull off: “In future, renewable energies will pay for the expansion of the electricity grids – while coal and gas will continue to use the grid free of charge.” (Sven Giegold, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the traffic light coalition government)

This effectively means extending the life of fossil fuels, which friends of renewable energies cannot allow to happen. It is crucial that the cost advantages of solar, wind, and now also storage technologies benefit people and businesses, not corporations that continue to rely on expensive imports of fossil fuels.

Only with the help of renewables can the energy transition be achieved in a fair, affordable, and sustainable manner. The future belongs to renewables. Only with their help can our children and grandchildren live on a healthy planet. We are currently experiencing the opposite again in this hot summer. A good climate is the basis for a healthy life and good health. According to UN calculations, 70,000 people died from the heat in Europe in 2023.

Like water in a river, the solar global economy is unstoppable. There are days when you could really despair or give up because of all the bad news—I know those days too. But when I sometimes feel like burying my head in the sand, I always realize that there is no sand nearby – which helps enormously.

Because Chancellor Merz emphasized at his summer press conference that Germany alone cannot save the climate, let’s take a look at the two billion people in Asia and their energy mix: India, with 1.5 billion people, ranks third in the world for solar energy and fourth for wind. The country wants to generate half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. China, with 1.4 billion people, will generate half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025 and is reducing its CO2 emissions this year for the first time compared to the previous year. This target was originally planned for 2030.

In the face of climate catastrophe and multiple other disasters, there is often a moment of despair. We too often overlook the signs of hope. The global solar revolution also allows for a moment of hope. As Ernst Bloch said, “When we cease to hope, what we fear is certain to come.”

Source

Franz Alt 2025 | Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator