Personally, I have been working in the solar industry on an international level for around 30 years and have been able to follow the ups and downs and the disastrous fall of the European solar industry after 2012.
A reason for the misery was quickly found, looking to the east. However, people had neglected to look for faults within themselves. A sad development for the solar company concerned, no question. The former Sonnenkönig had done a great job here when it came to getting political decision-makers in Germany and the EU on his side. Knowing full well that in the past he himself had his production facilities in Asia. For me personally, this has a slight "taint" and suggests personal mistakes in the company's orientation, for which they were looking for someone to blame. After all, they had to answer to those who had provided third-party funding or even state subsidies.
But have we learned anything from our own solar-history?
At the moment, we cannot shake off the impression that we are once again confronting the former enemy Asia, and China in particular, and looking for solutions in connection with corresponding restrictions against manufacturers from Asia.
This is a mistake that we have already seen with the very irritating punitive tariffs and the subsequent collapse of the solar industry. It is also a mistake that we are currently having to pay dearly for with regard to the energy transition, which was massively slowed down at the time.
I would therefore like to make a personal comment at this point, particularly in view to the fact that we are lagging far behind manufacturers in Asia in terms of technology and mastery of mainstream production processes. Even the renowned Fraunhofer ISE is still happy about "world records" that had already been topped in Asia a few years earlier.
„See globalization as an opportunity for a win-win situation“
I certainly understand the fears that are currently flaring up again. But shouldn't the experience of the disastrous solar history teach us better? Should we perhaps start to see globalization not as a one-way street, but as an opportunity for a win-win situation for all sides?
In other words, seek cooperation and partnerships with those who have a better command of the solar industry than we do in Europe?I'm not talking about foregoing the development of production capacities in Europe. Quite the opposite.
But doesn't it make sense from an economic and social point of view (energy and heat transition) to see cooperation on an equal footing as a sensible and necessary addition?
In other words, why not build up production capacities in Europe with a basline noise and meet the additional requirements of the market together with a cooperation partner?
See also: How long will European producers last?
On the one hand, flexibility is created in this area and markets are distributed within the partnership through sensible "gentleman's agreements". On the other hand, this approach allows us to contribute precisely those virtues that characterize us and are particularly important in Germany. Compliance with environmental protection regulations, conservation of resources, occupational health and safety, social responsibility for employees, etc. etc.
As far as the economic aspect is concerned, an internal mixed calculation puts us in a position to positively influence pricing downwards in order to enable a market gain. And let's not forget the acceleration of the expansion of PV to achieve the goals of the global energy transition, as we have costs that are much more economically viable.
Also see: End of European PV production?
To bring the whole thing down to a simple numbers game.
The aim of the solar industry was to reduce prices, especially of PV modules, so that PV systems would be affordable for the end consumer and to ensure that large-scale systems could be built in such a way that they could be operated economically.
Target achieved, isn’t it?
In addition, the globale goal is to build approx. 70 TW (figures vary greatly depending on the source) of PV in order to implement the energy transition in this segment in practice. If we now set the current global production of approx. 500 GW against this (here too, the figure is certainly dependent on the source), we would need approx. 140 years to achieve the above-mentioned target for the global energy transition.
German politicians and self-proclaimed "solar experts" nevertheless speak of so-called "overcapacities" or even "dependence" on China. To put it mildly, this is evidence of intellectual simplicity.
I think the direction should be clear to anyone in the solar industry with an alert mind.
Every country is called upon to emulate China, build up real capacities and spend less time making excuses and apportioning blame.
Ideally, we should cooperate with partners that has a better command of mainstream production and modern PV technologies than we do have in Europe.
At this point, the above is merely a thought, but it is certainly worth considering discussing this with the representatives of the solar industry in order to enable a much more positive development in the future and to understand this as a win-win for both sides of the protagonists of the solar industry.
„We need a massive rethinking process“
Preemptively for those who doubt the above figures. The numbers game mentioned above only plays a subordinate role, as it is more about proportionality and demonstrating that we need to "work together globally" instead of dwelling on misguided finger-pointing and fault-finding in the wrong place.
Also interesting: „The situation in the PV component market is uncertain”
It is not the politicians who have to take care of the "reconstruction" of the solar industry, but the companies themselves. Ideally, investors should be found to help finance a massive increase in production capacity using "modern and up-to-date" technologies. The hand has long been extended from Asia to Europe with venture capital, but is often turned down for unknown reasons.
We need a massive rethinking process and "real experts" who understand their field and not the prophecies of doom of the eternally yesterday.
Clever cooperation on eye-level
Admittedly, this initially requires an incomprehensive understanding of the overall context. But in my view, it is a worthwhile approach to secure the existence of the solar industry in Europe and even to expand it massively through clever cooperations on eye-level.
This also includes the associated result of "securing and expanding jobs in the EU!“ (AW/hcn)
