Marisol, Mexican consultant in solar energy with 16 years of experience on the sun as the future of the planet, in Germany, stands out at the Euref Campus in Berlin for the global potential of this renewable source.
“The sun as the future, rises every day, it’s there: we can reduce costs and carbon footprint,” she affirms. In contrast to fossil fuels —”pollutants and finite”—, solar energy is “unlimited and free“. Her call urges governments, industries, and citizens to accelerate the energy transition.
Mexico: unexpected leader with the sun as Industrial future
During a project with the German Solar Energy Association, Marisol discovered that Mexico leads globally in the installation of solar thermal systems for industries. “Germans were surprised: it wasn’t Germany, Austria, or China, it was Mexico!”, she reveals. The reason: high costs of LP gas and diesel, local manufacturing of solar collectors, and optimal climatic conditions guarantee quick investment returns.
Germany: power with challenges
Although Germany is the largest solar market in Europe in accumulated capacity, Marisol emphasizes contradictions: “It has progressed a lot, but lacks political support.” Only 13% of global energy is renewable, and the industry —consuming 34% worldwide— only uses 16% from clean sources. Despite state subsidies for roofs and “solar balconies“, fossils still dominate. “In Germany, heating —responsible for the highest energy expenditure— still depends on gas,” she criticizes.
Innovation in the heart of Berlin
The Euref Campus, a former research center turned into a sustainable hub, symbolizes the change. Here, companies and startups develop technologies like “solar heat from a distance”: peri-urban solar fields that supply hot water to entire communities. “It’s a place where everything is renewable: solar roofs, electric chargers, and net zero emissions,” Marisol describes.
Myths vs. realities of “the sun as the future”
The expert dismantles misconceptions:
- “Doesn’t work at night?”: Energy is stored.
- “Rain? Doesn’t work”: It works with sunlight, even if it’s cloudy.
- “Not profitable”: With certified technology, it lasts up to 25 years.
Also, she shares key figures: 3.7 million people work in renewables globally, and Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil lead the transition in Latin America.
Women, sun, and transatlantic bridges
As an independent consultant, Marisol links Mexico and Germany. “I do communication for the German association: from brochures about technologies to dissemination projects in industries.”
Her role as a trilingual Mexican facilitated campaigns that boosted solar energy in her home country. “The sun as the future is my blood and my future,” she declares, emphasizing that this industry “holds all the future of the world.”
The energy transition is not optional. With the sun as an inexhaustible ally, its massive adoption depends on political will, industrial investment, and citizen awareness. “It’s a decision: to leave behind fossils and use what we already have,” Marisol concludes from Berlin.
