| Summary:
The sustained and persistent environmental debate since the early 70's and
the progressive establishment of green politics in Germany's society helped the
development of a solar thermal niche market in the early 80's. Germany was certainly
not among the European pioneers of solar thermal heat - the market development
began a decade later than in Mediterranean countries like Greece, France and Spain.
Nevertheless, it has become Europes largest solar thermal market in volume
today, with a share of more than 50% of the whole European solar thermal market.
In recent years, much valuable experience has been gained in the context of building
up this solar (thermal) market. | 
