{"id":109580,"date":"2025-09-17T10:13:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T08:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/?p=109580"},"modified":"2025-09-17T10:13:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T08:13:48","slug":"european-solar-industry-leaders-call-on-eu-leaders-to-deliver-action-plan-for-solar-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/en\/politics\/european-solar-industry-leaders-call-on-eu-leaders-to-deliver-action-plan-for-solar-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"European Solar Industry Leaders Call on EU leaders to Deliver Action Plan for Solar Manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The European Solar Manufacturing Council and SolarPower Europe call for additional measures beyond the Net Zero Industry Act including production linked support, inclusion of \u201cMade in Europe\u201d in Public Procurement, and better financing conditions. Joint Letter sent to European Commission and Ministers of the Competitiveness Council ahead of Solar-PV Ministerial Meeting at 30 September<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) and SolarPower Europe (SPE) today issued a joint call to EU leaders, urging them to use the upcoming Ministerial meeting on\u00a030 September 2025<\/strong>\u00a0to announce a concrete action plan for solar manufacturing in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint letter addressed to Executive Vice-President St\u00e9phane S\u00e9journ\u00e9 and Director-General Kerstin Jorna, and copied to Ministers of the Competitiveness Council, the two associations underline the urgency of decisive political intervention to secure the future of Europe\u2019s solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEurope\u2019s solar industry is at a crossroads. Without immediate, coordinated action, Europe risks losing its remaining solar manufacturing base. We call on EU leaders to turn the ambition of the Net-Zero Industry Act into reality,\u201d\u00a0said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A Strategic Moment for European Solar Manufacturing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Despite strong political commitments under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA)<\/strong> and the 2024 EU Solar Charter<\/strong>, Europe\u2019s solar deployment is stalling while industrial closures and bankruptcies mount across the value chain. The NZIA targets at least 30 GW of EU-manufactured solar PV<\/strong> by 2030 \u2013 yet this goal cannot be achieved without urgent political and financial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe EU must act now to preserve its solar sovereignty. The ESIA\u2019s 30 GW ambition is not materialising \u2013 and time is running out. Manufacturers cannot wait until the next financial framework to see action,\u201d<\/strong> stressed Christoph Podewils, Secretary General of ESMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry Recommendations to EU Leaders<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The letter outlines five key measures that EU leaders should commit to at the Ministerial meeting and ESIA Forum:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. A European PV Industry 2030 Action Plan<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 A political roadmap to rebuild and expand solar manufacturing capacities along the full value chain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Revision of EU Public Procurement Legislation<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 To reward resilience, cybersecurity, and EU content, ensuring \u201cMade in Europe\u201d solar is included in public procurement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A New Cleantech Manufacturing Fund<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, with a dedicated facility for solar covering both CAPEX and OPEX support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Expansion of Temporary OPEX Support<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Extending the Clean Industrial State Aid Framework Chapter 6 to all solar value chain segments to prevent further factory closures and retain skilled workers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Increased Role for the European Investment Bank (EIB)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Including low- or zero-interest loans, counter-guarantees, and \u201cMade in Europe\u201d criteria for supported projects.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    A Clear Call to Action<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The solar associations stress that implementing the NZIA alone is insufficient. Without a bold and immediate commitment, Europe risks losing its capacity to produce solar PV technologies domestically \u2013 undermining both its\u00a0climate neutrality goals\u00a0and its\u00a0strategic sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThis is a make-or-break moment. The EU must show it is ready to preserve and rebuild Europe\u2019s solar industry \u2013 before it is too late,\u201d\u00a0the letter concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n