EU Industry Ministers discuss actions to support EU solar manufacturing

Today, EU Industry Ministers gathered to discuss European solar manufacturing. The meeting came alongside the annual forum of the European Solar PV Industry Alliance (ESIA). The Ministers discussed the implementation of the Net Zero Industry Act and other measures to reshore EU solar manufacturing.   

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Dries Acke, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe (he/him):  

“It is encouraging to see Industry Ministers, the European Investment Bank and the European Commission discuss solar supply chains and EU manufacturing at the highest levels. But that is only meaningful if it is followed up with concrete action. SolarPower Europe, together with the ESMC, laid out such plan in a recent joint letter. It asks to:

  1. Revise EU Public Procurement Legislation, including EU content preferences
  2. Introduce a new EU Solar Manufacturing Booster, similar to the recently launched Battery Booster
  3. Expand State Aid rules to all solar value chain segments to prevent further factory closures
  4. Increase the support role of the European Investment Bank for European solar manufacturing

With these positive actions – none of which require any protectionist trade measures – we can revive European solar manufacturing. In a recent report, SolarPower Europe calculated that we need to invest annually between €1.4 and 5.2 billion to reach the 30GW manufacturing goal.”