Are We about to lose the solar industry in Europe?

We're about to lose the industry in Europe." The EU is hoping to bring 30 gigawatts of solar production capacity back to the bloc by 2030 as part of its proposed Net-Zero Industry Act, after losing much of its industry to Beijing a decade ago. EU countries produced just 1.5 GW of their own solar panels last year.

What is the EU doing with solar energy?

The EU funds many solar cell projects, such as the PERTPV project, in which perovskite-based materials were used to build a new type of solar cell. Photovoltaic technology is becoming more widely used worldwide. Year after year, photovoltaics make up a bigger share of the EU’s energy mix.

Can Europe retaliate against China's solar industry?

Not only does the bloc need Chinese imports, but any trade measures against China’s solar industry could prompt retaliation. Europe has a “crucial dilemma when it comes to green industrial policy,” said Simone Tagliapietra, a climate policy specialist at the Bruegel think tank.

What should Brussels do about the solar industry?

The solar industry, represented in Brussels by SolarPower Europe and ESMC, has for months urged Brussels to spearhead an EU-led buyout of manufacturer stocks; to further relax state aid laws for solar initiatives; and to adopt rules favoring local producers for green energy projects.

Why are EU solar manufacturers facing an existential crisis?

EU solar manufacturers say they face an existential crisis due to Chinese subsidies, which they blame for flooding the EU with dirt-cheap solar panels and creating a supply glut that is causing a wave of bankruptcies.

Why is Europe facing a Solar Crisis?

Europe’s solar industry is facing its deepest crisis in more than a decade as steep competition from China erodes manufacturing in the sector, rendering the continent’s hope of greater energy independence even more wishful. More solar panels were installed than ever before across the European Union last year in a boon for the bloc’s climate goals.