Christoph Podewils takes on the role of Secretary General of the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC). At its meeting on Tuesday, the ESMC Board expressed its confidence in Mr Podewils and entrusted him with the task of further developing the association in the coming years.
Christoph Podewils succeeds Dr Johan Lindahl, who has played a pivotal role in ESMC´s substantial growth in recent years. Under his leadership and in collaboration with the ESMC team, the organization has established itself as the voice for the European PV manufacturing industry. Lindahl is stepping down at his own request to focus on his start-up company moving forward.
Christoph Podewils has previously been a member of the ESMC board until mid-2024 and is therefore familiar with the association and its member companies. In 2023 and 2024, he was responsible for contacts with politicians and authorities at the EU level at solar manufacturer Meyer Burger.
“We would like to thank Johan Lindahl very much for his commitment. He has managed to turn the ESMC into a sought-after voice in Brussels from very small beginnings and has fought with full energy for the interests of the European solar industry. We are pleased that in Christoph Podewils we have found a long-standing and experienced industry insider who can build on this work,” said the three co-chairs Carsten Rohr (NorSun), Christian Westermeier (Wacker Chemie) and Gaëtan Masson (Becquerel Institute).
“I would like to thank the ESMC board for their trust and I am very much looking forward to the challenges ahead. On the one hand, the PV industry is strategically important for the independence of energy supply in Europe. On the other hand, however, it is also an industry of the future that can deliver billions of euros in added value and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Jointly with the ESMC sustainability policy director Jens Holm I will work to ensure that Europe and its citizens can benefit from this,” said Christoph Podewils.
ESMC aims at promoting and supporting the European PV manufacturing industry and its value chain at the European level, speaking with one voice. The organization represents approximately 80 member companies from all parts of the PV manufacturing value chain.