Developers Demand EU Solar Industrial Strategy

Eight European Solar Developers Write To EU Demanding Policy For 20 GW Solar Manufacturing

Developers Demand EU Solar Industrial Strategy

Europe has the potential to install 870 GW of solar power capacity by 2030, according to leading solar developers but it needs to be backed by a strong local manufacturing industry, from polysilicon to modules. (Illustrative Photo; Photo Credit: sondem/Shutterstock.com)

  • Solar development companies have written to the EC to bring in a strategic industrial policy for solar PV manufacturing in the EU within 2022
  • The companies say they are ready to deploy solar at a faster pace to help EU achieve its carbon neutrality target, now it needs to be backed by a strong local supply chain
  • They want a pragmatic and progressive strategy endorsed by the Competitiveness Council

Akuo Energy, Amarenco, BayWa, EDF, Enel Green Power (EGP), Engie Iberdrola and Vattenfall have written a letter to the European Commission (EC) demanding a European industrial strategy that can lead the block to establish 20 GW solar PV manufacturing capacity, says SolarPower Europe (SPE).

Pointing at the steps being taken by the US and Indian governments to encourage domestic PV manufacturing considering it as a strategic industry, the developers want the commission to put in place a ‘pragmatic and progressive’ European strategy endorsed by the Competitiveness Council in 2022.

Convened by the European solar PV lobby association SolarPower Europe (SPE), these leading developers point at the urgency to reinvest in critical solar manufacturing capacity within the continent, covering the entire value chain from polysilicon to modules. “Allowing access to a diversified supply of components in the medium term is necessary to ensure a healthy competition among manufacturers, sustain a continuous innovation cycle, improve the sustainability of the supply chain and strengthen the resilience of the industry in case of future shocks,” reads the letter.

Stating market trends and to meet the block’s target of carbon neutrality Europe would need to install 870 GW solar capacity by 2030, as against the commission’s estimate of 479 GW, the developers said they are ready to deploy solar at a faster pace.

Encouraging solar through an industrial policy will also create high quality jobs as well as support additional jobs in renewable hydrogen or decentralized battery storage industry, they further claim.

“Following the work of the European Solar Initiative, European solar developers are calling on the Commission and the Competitiveness Council to support the redevelopment of critical manufacturing capacities, and endorse a strategy for the EU solar PV value chain in 2022,” said SPE CEO Walburga Hemetsberger.

SPE and EIT InnoEnergy launched the European Solar Initiative in February 2021 with an aim to achieve 20 GW annual solar PV production capacity across the PV value chain by 2025 (see European Solar Initiative Launched For PV Manufacturing).

About The Author

Anu Bhambhani

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Anu is our solar news whirlwind. At TaiyangNews, she covers everything that is of importance in the world of solar power. In the past 9 years that she has been associated with TaiyangNews, she has covered over thousands of stories, and analysis pieces on markets, technology, financials, and more on a daily basis. She also hosts TaiyangNews Conferences and Webinars. Prior to joining TaiyangNews, Anu reported on sustainability, management, and education for leading print dailies in India. [email protected]

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