As China floods the global market with cheap solar modules, the European solar industry is in danger of being lost in the price war. And in Germany, where the traffic light government is accelerating its expansion
The SPD, the FDP and the Greens are again arguing about photovoltaics. That could mean the definitive end of the local industry.
An example of this is the news of the end of solar cell production in Saxony. Although this has been expected for some time locally, the news still caused disappointment. Swiss manufacturer Meyer Burger announced on Friday, February 23, that it would stop producing solar modules in Germany and begin preparations to close its Freiberg plant in Saxony.
Solar cell manufacturer withdraws from Germany
The reason is the lack of political support to correct current market imbalances caused by overproduction and dumping prices, the company stated. The plant closure, which will affect 500 employees, will take effect at the end of April.
The promise of the federal government, especially the Minister of the Economy, Robert Habeck (Greens), to do something about the flood of solar energy from China has so far not been fulfilled.
Actors repeatedly say that the coalition has recognized the threatening situation for solar companies, as also demonstrated by the traffic light “photovoltaic strategy” presented in May last year. But once again, there is disagreement about the path to achieving the goal of facilitating the expansion of photovoltaics and helping the industry.
Traffic light deal on solar package 1 nowhere in sight
It was not until Wednesday that the FDP parliamentary group declared that, despite intensive negotiations with coalition partners, no corresponding draft law was in sight. This is reported by the newspaper Handelsblatt.
The impression that we are on the verge of an agreement is wrong. Solar Package 1, which brings together several initiatives to further accelerate the expansion of solar energy, particularly photovoltaics, is still a long time in coming.
In addition to the solar package, financing of “lighthouse projects” is planned. However, it was recently reported that the financial resources for these projects would have to be significantly reduced due to tight budgets, the Handelsblatt newspaper continued.
“We call on the FDP to abandon its resistance”
Only if the traffic light coalition agrees to the introduction of a temporary resilience bonus before Easter will solar module factories on the necessary gigawatt scale in Germany have a future, said Carsten König, CEO of the Federal Solar Industry Association BSW , to “Ippen. Media”. .
Solar companies such as Meyer Burger have been calling for months for the introduction of the so-called “resilience bonus” to encourage consumers to buy European solar modules. In addition to purchase incentives, the Ministry of Economy plans to increase the feed-in tariff for electricity from European solar systems. This aims to make the generation of solar energy with European modules more economically attractive.
Dispute over bonuses and bureaucracy
But this is where the dispute breaks out: the FDP is against it and has the support of several players in the solar industry. They maintain that such measures only generate more bureaucracy for companies. Furthermore, subsidies are not a solution to sustainably support the industry.
BSW head König says: “We call on the FDP to abandon its resistance to the introduction of a resilience component.” There is no alternative and the train is leaving now.
However, not everyone sees it or wants it that way: “If we want to maintain the solar industry in Germany and Europe, we have to develop instruments that make commercial locations attractive and not talk about bonuses for end customers as a long process, bureaucratic and, above all, an uncertain detour,” Sarah Müller, CEO of the solar company Zolar, told Ippen.Media.
While the solar package is not advancing in the cabinet because the SPD, Greens and FDP have not yet agreed on a common line, in addition to Meyer Burger, Solarwatt and Heckart Solar are also considering stopping their production in Germany if not an agreement is reached. .
The opposition is now urgently warning that a solution must finally be found: CDU economic politician Tilmann Kuban told “Ippen.Media” that Germany would have to arm itself against China's aggressive economic policies.
“Instead of looking anxiously at other countries' localization policies, we need to do our homework: lower taxes, affordable energy, less bureaucracy and more flexibility in the labor market. “The federal government must now quickly switch existing financing programs for the solar industry to panels produced in Europe,” said the CDU politician.