Renewable energy technologies are booming worldwide. Huge markets are vying for these key technologies of the 21st century. Germany is home to many innovative companies, but has lost important players in recent years - the photovoltaic industry especially in the field of wafer, cell and module production. On her summer tour, Simone Peter, President of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) is visiting companies that have chosen Germany as a location and are making their contribution to value creation and innovation in an industrial sector that is fit for the future.
Together with the Saxon State Secretary for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture, Gerd Lippold, and the Chief Executive of the German Solar Industry Association (BSW), Carsten Körnig, she is visiting the Meyer Burger plant in Freiberg, Saxony, today. In addition to the role of the solar industry as an important building block for decarbonization and energy sovereignty, the visit also addressed the issue of skilled workers and the challenges facing the industry in Germany as a business location.
Strengthen the entire European PV value chain
"We as Meyer Burger were very pleased about today's visit. At our site we were able to show what the renaissance of the European solar industry can look like. My conviction is: Now is the time for a determined rebuilding of the local PV manufacturing. But we have to be quick. Other countries, such as the USA, are showing us the way and supporting their companies with great commitment. Europe must follow suit and strengthen the entire value chain for PV systems. This will create jobs and ensure energy independence. At Meyer Burger, we have already started once“, Gunter Erfurt, PMP, Chief Executive Officer (Meyer Burger Technology):
Millions of new jobs
"What we need now to give the renewable energy industry in Germany a tailwind again is a European strategy for production capacities along all stages of the value chain. The European renewable associations had already called for this two years ago. According to calculations by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the number of jobs in the EU will rise from 1.2 million today to 2.7 million in 2050. The course must be set for this now. The renewables sector is not only an important pillar of the energy transition and climate protection, but is already lowering energy prices and creating value today. The Corona pandemic and the supply and cost crisis resulting from the war of aggression against Ukraine have shown us the enormous importance of energy sovereignty“, Simone Peter, President of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) said.
Provide much stronger support
"The solar industry is coming back in a big way - also to Saxony. This stands for the innovative strength of the company as well as the location. And it stands for the necessary path as well as for the potential of the energy turnaround. The latter must be vigorously pursued in Saxony, too, because we are also committed to the climate targets set in Paris. For me, the energy transition means climate policy and innovation-oriented location policy at the same time. It is an opportunity for Saxony. And last but not least, the investments here strengthen Europe's energy sovereignty. Against the backdrop of the Russian attack on Ukraine, this is also an imperative. For all these reasons, Saxony is lobbying the federal government and the EU to provide much stronger support for the renaissance of the solar industry at national and European level. The bottom line is to create an environment for the solar industry in which it can produce competitively. We have currently introduced a resolution to this end in the Bundesrat“, Gerd Lippold, Saxon State Secretary for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture, said.
Growing domestic market crucial factor
"A growing domestic market is the most important location factor for the solar industry. Reliably securing this is the political imperative of the hour. This summer, the German government has already set photovoltaic expansion targets that are both ambitious and without alternative. They can be achieved if the legislature now provides attractive investment conditions and consistently removes market barriers. The current amendment to the Energy Security Act should also definitely be used for this purpose, because we have no more time to lose“, Carsten Körnig, Chief Executive of the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) said. (hcn)
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