How a 1970s German protest reshaped the future of renewable energy
In late May 1976, the small town of Sasbach hosted Germany’s first-ever renewable energy exhibition. Called Sonnentage, the event drew over 12,000 visitors and showcased early solar technology. Meanwhile, just a year earlier, plans for a massive nuclear plant in nearby Whyl had sparked fierce opposition.
The story began in 1975, when West German authorities announced two 1,300-megawatt nuclear reactors for Whyl. Locals quickly organised, adopting the Alemannic slogan Nai hämmer gsait—‘We say no.’ By February 1976, activists had occupied the construction site, maintaining their protest until November that year. Their resistance eventually succeeded in halting the project entirely.
At the same time, renewable energy was gaining attention. In Sasbach, electrician Werner Mildebrath presented the first solar installation at *Sonnentage*. The event’s popularity led to its relocation in 1977, moving to Freiburg’s trade fair grounds. Over the decades, it grew into Intersolar, now the world’s leading solar industry exhibition. Critics once dismissed renewables as insignificant. In 1993, energy experts claimed they would never exceed four percent of Germany’s electricity. Today, nearly two-thirds of the country’s power comes from renewable sources.
The protests in Whyl marked a turning point in Germany’s energy debate. Sonnentage laid the foundation for a global solar industry. Together, these events helped shift the nation’s focus from nuclear power to sustainable alternatives.
