From Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Methling, EUROSOLAR Member
I had known Brigitte and Ditmar since the early 1990s through my colleague Prof. Dr. Fritz Tack from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Rostock and the Innovation and Education Center in Hohen Luckow. My first personal encounter with both was in 1999 in my ministerial office in Schwerin when they presented me with their project of the Solar Center Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Solar Initiative Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. I was immediately enthusiastic about their idea and the project, as climate protection and the use of renewable energy were key focuses of my environmental policy and administration. For this, I had committed staff (including Dr. Arnold Fuchs and Ulrich Buchta) who advised the Schmidts, cleared obstacles, and convinced partners in the Ministry of Economics. I remember a related consultation with the Minister of Economics, Dr. Ebnet, and the municipality of Lübow in Dorf Mecklenburg. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Economics later did not grant the originally promised funding for the technology center area. Throughout my entire tenure from 1998 to 2006, the Ministry of Environment supported and promoted the Solar Center. In December 2001, between Christmas and New Year’s, we held the groundbreaking ceremony in freezing cold weather. The inauguration followed in 2004.
Later, I was frequently a guest and speaker at events at the nationally and internationally highly esteemed and recognized Solar Center MV (among others, awarded the German Solar Prize), and I got to know and appreciate Brigitte and Ditmar even better—Brigitte as an indefatigable driving force and motivator, Ditmar as a smart engineer and doer. It was fortunate that the University of Wismar no longer wanted to employ these passionate scientists and technicians.
Since 2012, Brigitte and I were partners on the board of the German section of Eurosolar e.V. Unfortunately, the legendary Eurosolar founder Hermann Scheer had passed away in 2010, and we continued to fight together with colleagues on the German board and the International Board for the fastest possible transition to a fully solar energy production and usage across all sectors (electricity, heat, mobility). Brigitte was Vice President of the International Board and Deputy Chairwoman of the German board. We often traveled together by train to Bonn and back. The long journeys provided the opportunity for many scientific and political discussions, as well as for getting to know each other’s personal motives, views, and problems. The Eurosolar members (Presidents Droege and Grüger, Chairman of the German section Dr. Berg, other board members, and employees of the Bonn office) were thrilled with Brigitte’s persistence, energy, creativity, and courage. They have asked me to honor Brigitte’s significant contributions to the successful work of Eurosolar e.V. at this farewell event.
In many ways, Brigitte Schmidt was a sun worshipper. The term “Lady Solar” was quite fitting, as she always drew attention with her selection of impressive hats. She often appeared at our meetings “well-hatted,” a strikingly beautiful woman. Brigitte wasn’t easy—always demanding, sometimes even exhausting for her partners and companions. She was a powerhouse, radiating energy even when the illness she had bravely endured for years was increasingly sapping her strength. Brigitte was connected to nature and cultured. She increasingly understood her work for sustainability in a holistic way. That’s why she also organized many cultural and nutritional events. She will be missed not only by her partner Ditmar, her daughter Lesja, and family, partners, and friends. She will also be greatly missed by the Solar Center Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Eurosolar e.V. She leaves a huge void for all of us. How fitting is the quote from Honoré de Balzac in the invitation: “We live twice, the first time in reality, the second time in memory.”
We will remember Brigitte Schmidt with gratitude as a person, wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as a colleague and partner who provided ideas and strength.
Brigitte Schmidt was Vice President of the EUROSOLAR Board and passed away on June 13, 2024.