Today the global energy demand is served by oil (34%), coal (24%), gas (21%), biomass energy (11%), nuclear power (7%), hydro power (2%) and other renewable energies (1%).

Compared to the early 1970's the energy consumption nearly doubled and is expected to increase by an additional third until 2020 due to the strong economic growth in markets like China and India.

Verified and economically accessible fossil fuel and uranium reserves are running out within the next 100 years. These reserves are expected to last only for short time periods: Coal 93 years, gas 68 years, uranium 65 years, oil 40 years and crude oil 15 years. Even taking unverified estimated resources into account will only extent this period by a relatively short time for most fuel types: Coal 468 years, gas 73 years, uranium 65 years, oil 19 years, crude oil 63 years. To gain access to these resources intensive search and costly exploration is required, adding to the cost of energy derived from these.

The economic cost of for example oil prices increases are enormous. It was calculated that $ 1 / barrel increase means € 1 billion increase of costs for oil and gas in Germany. Not only at a time of financial crisis and looming recession, this is unacceptable.

Furthermore, while 2/3 of coal are coming from North-America and Australasia, oil and gas are dominantly conveyed in countries considered as politically and / or economically instable.

Developing alternative resources, increasing energy efficiency and gaining control over one's own consumption and production is the only smart thing to do.

Photovoltaics and other renewable energy sources allow independent energy generation where it is needed - and they are continuously decreasing in cost while offering unlimited, easily accessible resources.

*source: German ministry for the environment, natural protection and reactor safety, energy