Though neither a translator nor the original German title ("Sonnen-Strategie") is indicated anywhere, this book is the second edition of a book originally published in 1993 and intended for interested laypeople. As Hermann Scheer (pronounced like "Cher") is a member of Germany's center-left Social-Democratic Party and not the Green party, one might expect him to have a somewhat moderate approach to renewable energy. But Scheer is as radical as any of the Greens. He calls for a 100% switch to renewable energy ASAP to prevent the apocalypse: "Without a radical shift of the world's energy supply system to non-destructive solar energy sources… the Western model of democracy and capitalism is not the perfection of history but its execution."
In the process, he also ruthlessly lambastes his fellow politicians, who "think globally and postpone nationally". Scheer convincingly argues that merely covering the roofs of existing buildings with PV would, for instance, completely meet Great Britain's energy needs, though this would not be necessary as Britain's energy needs could also be satisfied by wind power alone, which again would not be necessary as biomass alone would more than suffice, etc. The effect of this line of argumentation is overwhelming, and one is left wondering why renewable energy is not already dominant, especially as Scheer also cites numerous studies published in the 1970s (!) by UNESCO, French energy experts, the US, etc. arguing exactly the same thing. On the other hand, other studies come to less impressive conclusions for the potential of renewables...
Scheer reveals every argument against renewable energy to be nothing less than a fraudulent attempt by power companies to retain control; large companies will obviously be the losers if RE is introduced, so they are doing their utmost to maintain their "outdated structures", claiming that RE is not ready and threatening mass layoffs if they do not get their way. Take the rhetoric against windmills: in reality, they kill fewer birds than normal high-voltage lines, require less acreage than any other form of energy generation, and "create less noise than the average truck". Who is behind all of this hot air, then? "Large energy producers, who, as the creators of smog, have invented the term 'aesthetic environmental pollution'." (To be fair, these three words are never used together in English as a buzzword, but Scheer can be forgiven for not knowing the English lingo.) Or, as he later states, environmental legislation is "highly welcome when it obstructs alternatives."
While such views might endear Scheer to many environmentalists, other views of his might not. He comes out strongly in favor of the sinks that some environmentalists criticized in the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, he convincingly argues that greater efficiency does not reduce energy consumption - higher energy prices do. For instance, in the US, where fuel prices are half as high as in Europe, people who never drive off road are driving gas-guzzling off-road vehicles. Greater efficiency (hybrid SUVs anyone?) will merely save people money, allowing them to afford more energy.
Some readers may find some other claims Scheer makes a bit far fetched, such as when he states that the use of solar cookers in developing nations "would probably even slow population growth" because fewer children would be needed to gather wood. But overall his arguments are as hard to refute as they are unapologetic. And those who like to hear large corporations referred to as "those who trade in the destruction of nature at the expense of mankind" are sure to find the book an excellent read.