“The European Commission engaging on the solar manufacturing crisis in the European Parliament is an important step. We continue to encourage and contribute to this dialogue at the highest political level. Time is running out to save European solar PV manufacturers“, Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe said.
„While we acknowledge the Commissioner’s comments on the role of the Net-Zero Industry Act and the EU Solar Strategy, as well as other existing tools, we are compelled to stress that further urgent action is still needed to support EU solar manufacturing“, Hemetsberger continued.
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European solar manufacturers would be in a different landscape compared to May 2022, when the EU Solar Strategy was announced. Manufacturers would go bankrupt. „More support, and better access to support, is critically needed“, Hemetsberger stressed.
Call for a EU Solar Charter – against trade defence measures
It would be reassuring to hear that the Commission will carefully weigh the impact of any potential trade defence measures against Europe’s energy and climate targets. History would have shown that trade defence measures did not bring back the reshoring of solar manufacturing and coincided with deep declines in solar deployment.
Also interesting: Has the momentum of a European production capacity already passed?
„Our modelling suggests that so-called safeguarding measures on solar could lead to more than 30% decline in solar installation this year and cut deployment in half in the years to come“.
More durable solutions would available. In line with the sector-specific, multi-billion euro plans for wind, chips, and hydrogen, SolarPower Europe is calling for a dedicated EU Solar Charter.
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„We are at a make-or-break moment for European solar manufacturing. If Europe doesn’t act now, there will be no solar manufacturing left to save. We cannot leave our climate and energy security targets in the hands of others.” (hcn)
