Existing energy systems need to be less dependent on carbon-based energy sources such as biomass, coal, oil, and gas, and should slowly be replaced by sources with low to zero carbon dioxide emissions such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. It is also crucial to develop technologies that consume less energy. The investments required to do so can be gained by reducing the costs spent on fossil fuels. In addition, the transformation will open up new markets, which will in turn create new jobs and help stimulate the economy. The technology to achieve energy change is already here. Germany has set a good example for this movement, but climate change is a global problem that we all must solve together.
Solar cooker
Sophie Artz
Solar cooker
Sophie Artz
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Orbiter 3: Solar energy
Text and images by Sophie Artz
University of the Arts (UdK), Berlin
Bertrand Piccard was the first person to attempt to fly around the world in a hot air balloon.
Bertrand Piccard was the first person to attempt to fly around the world in a hot air balloon.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
He only had enough gas to reach Egypt. This gave him cause to think.
He only had enough gas to reach Egypt. This gave him cause to think.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
“I can’t offer you gas, but I can make you a cup of tea!”
The energy from the sun that reaches Earth is 5,000 times more than is required by humanity each year.
“I can’t offer you gas, but I can make you a cup of tea!”
The energy from the sun that reaches Earth is 5,000 times more than is required by humanity each year.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
“Even at night I can make the sun shine!”
We need to become independent of fossil fuels.
“Even at night I can make the sun shine!”
We need to become independent of fossil fuels.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Piccard developed an airplane that could fly day or night using only solar power.
Piccard developed an airplane that could fly day or night using only solar power.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
With solar energy, our future could look a lot different.
With solar energy, our future could look a lot different.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Even in the most remote places, people could supply themselves with electricity.
Even in the most remote places, people could supply themselves with electricity.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
“We just need to change our habits!”
We have to change how we think, because fossil fuels need to become a thing of the past.
“We just need to change our habits!”
We have to change how we think, because fossil fuels need to become a thing of the past.
Drawn by Sophie Artz, 2014. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Artist’s comment:
I was familiar with solar energy prior to this project. But I didn’t know that the sun’s power is so great that it could power the entire planet or make airplanes fly. It is possible, in theory. However, as long as there are people earning millions from fossile fuels, the development of this promising technology is impeded.
How to cite
Artz, Sophie. “Solar Energy.” Environment & Society Portal, Multimedia Library, 2014. http://www.environmentandsociety.org/node/6635/.
The comic also appears in Alexandra Hamann, Reinhold Leinfelder, Helmuth Trischler, and Henning Wagenbreth, eds., Anthropozän – 30 Meilensteine auf dem Weg in ein neues Erdzeitalter. Eine Comic-Anthologie (Munich: Deutsches Museum, 2014).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
