Policy topics
ESMC strives to take a position that reflects the interests of the upstream part of the PV industry in Europe, in order to promote and support manufacturing companies, equipment manufacturers and R&D organizations. This could be achieved by using smart instruments depending on the market and policy evolutions. ESMC favours a systemic approach to EU-based production for the current and future energy system. To reach this objective, a set of policy instruments will be required. ESMC have formed working groups and and is working actively on the topics described below.
GENERAL STRATEGY
ESMCs strategy focuses on making PV a central element of the energy transformation process in Europe, through a sustainable yet ambitious development of PV installations, in combination with a dynamic and competitive European manufacturing industry covering the entire PV value chain.
ESMC POLICY PROPOSALS FOR THE EU STRATEGY FOR SOLAR ENERGY
ESMC envisions a set of policies and regulations aiming at developing the PV market and the massive re-development of all segments of the PV value chain in Europe. This industry will feed the expected massive development of PV installations in Europe and globally.
ECODESIGN AND ENERGY LABELLING
As the European Commission is considering introducing environmental policies for PV and other markets, ESMC promotes a specific position aiming at mandatory policies rather than voluntary schemes, with a preference for a strong EcoDesign scheme. The inclusion of CO2-footprint, in addition to other environmental requirements, is a key success for ESMC, and we actively follow the development.
THE EUROPEAN SOLAR STRATEGY
Promoting the development of manufacturing capacities for sustainable PV products in Europe requires implementation of support policies, without slowing down market development. Following the EU industrial strategy, ESMC have requested a Solar Strategy in which the significance of PV manufacturing will be addressed.
AN IPCEI FOR PV MANUFACTURING
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for the possibility of approving
state aid for ‘Important Projects of Common European Interest’ (IPCEI). ESMC initiated a process and a working group in spring 2021, in collaboration with the European Solar
Initiative. Throughout 2021, the IPCEI consortia attracted over 60 European companies and
research organizations, all actively engaged in forming an IPCEI for PV manufacturing under
the lead of ESMC.
EU SOLAR PV INDUSTRY ALLIANCE
The EU Solar Energy Strategy states that the EU Solar PV Industry Alliance will bring together industrial actors, research institutes, consumer associations and other stakeholders with an interest in the solar PV sector, including the emerging circularity industry. The Alliance will work to identify and coordinate investment opportunities, project pipelines and technology portfolios and establish pathways for the solar industrial ecosystem in Europe.
EU RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE FACILITY (RRF)
As part of a wide-ranging response, the aim of the Recovery and Resilience Facility is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic. During 2021, ESMC addressed the EU Commission and followed the development of the Recovery and Resilience plans (RRP), and thereafter studied and summarized the total support for PV manufacturing in the endorsed plans.
OTHER POLICY TOPICS
ESMC is active in several areas, advocating for improved conditions for our members in the European PV Manufacturing Industry. In the section linked below, results and output on areas that do not fall under any of the other categories are listed.