Press release: ESMC strongly supports the EU Solar PV Industry Alliance – bold actions are necessary

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) expresses strong support for the EU Solar PV Industry Alliance proposed in the recently adopted EU Solar Energy Strategy and requests to start the work of the Alliance and establish a concrete support program for PV manufacturing industry as soon as possible, preferably so that the implementation guidelines of the Alliance already are set in 2022. The measures investigated and taken should ensure fast European PV manufacturing capacities deployment along the full value chain and across the whole EU where viable.

ESMC initial proposals for the EU Solar PV Industry Alliance has been handled to the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson during her visit in Lithuanian PV modules manufacturing company SoliTek on 13th June. The EU Solar PV Industry Alliance could be instrumental in proposing concrete measures to expand the European PV manufacturing capacities for such European companies along the full PV value chain.

ESMC is further developing more concrete proposals and will be prepared to present these once the Alliance will be established. A target for the European PV manufacturing capacities, a special financing vehicle extensively reducing the capital and operational costs and ensured PV manufacturing capacities along the full value chain in Europe should be the key deliverables of the Alliance.

ESMC previous efforts and proposals during the preparation of the EU Solar Energy Strategy to create a financial vehicle to de-risk the investments into PV manufacturing along the value chain has been recognized by the European Commission proposal to establish the EU Solar PV Industry Alliance, which will map the availability of financial support, attract private investment and facilitate dialogue and match-making between producers and off-takers. The Alliance will be of critical importance for framing the strategy of the European PV manufacturing future to better balance PV manufacturing and PV deployment in the EU.

These positive developments for the recognition of PV manufacturing in Europe will be further supported by the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for PV, launched on 20th May in Brussels, opening further doors for the EU Member States to support for the built-up of innovative PV manufacturing capacities.

Download ESMC framework proposals for the EU Solar PV Industry Alliance.

Pictured: The European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson receives the ESMC policy proposals from ESMC’s Policy Director Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.