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Initiative for a strong European solar industry

Vice-President Sefcovic stated 'We must collectively identify Europe's competitive edge and ensure we maintain it even throughout this rapidly changing environment. That is why we launched the Clean Energy Industrial Forum in February. The Forum will focus on the role that European industry can play in the clean energy transition.'

Strong framework for supply side management

Heeding the call, Christian Westermeier, President of SolarPower Europe responded 'Europe is a leader in market development policies, but this has not been matched with a strong framework for supply side management. The message of the Vice-President today is one that we fully support and one that we will work together on to make a reality. Nothing is more important that providing good jobs in clean energies as we shift away from old, polluting power technologies. We believe this initiative will deliver such jobs for the EU.'

300,000 solar jobs by 2030

James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe, added 'The European Commission's Clean Energy Industrial Forum will build the real framework to make EU solar manufacturing grow along the whole value chain.With an industrial competitiveness strategy in place, the solar sector alone could support 300,000 jobs by 2030.'

The Vice-President has championed a Battery Alliance within the Clean Energy Industrial Forum, which also includes a pillar on renewable energy industrial development. The aim of the Forum is to develop policies at the EU level which will support clean energy companies to improve competitiveness and drive investment in such industries in Europe.

During his visit to The Smarter E/Intersolar Europe in Munich, the Vice-President met with representatives from leading solar manufacturers Siemens, Fronius, ABB and Wacker Chemie, as well as innovators and start ups including block chain developers Suncontract and incubator KIC InnoEnergy. (HCN)

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More useful information:

http://www.pveurope.eu/News/Markets-Money/Offer-new-digital-based-services-and-sell-solar-as-a-package

https://www.pveurope.eu/solar-modules/eu-parliament-pushes-prosumers-and-solar