Eurener is a Spanish photovoltaic module manufacturer specialising in the European residential sector and has been awarded the prestigious Platinum Medal for Sustainability, Good Labour Practices and Business Ethics by EcoVadis.
The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act. The move follows the provisional agreement of the law in February, and marks the finalisation of the NZIA. The last step will be a rubber stamp from EU Competition Ministers on 24 May 2024.
Mounting systems manufacturer Schletter Group has published its first CSR report. The report, which covers the full calendar year of 2023, contains the company’s strategies and measures pertaining to ecological responsibility, sustainable economics, and social commitment.
Longi has been awarded the Silver Sustainability Rating by EcoVadis, the international authoritative corporate social responsibility (CSR) assessment platform.
The battery industry is steadily moving forward: With the increasing electrification of vehicles and the expansion of renewable sources of energy, the global demand for batteries is growing. New technologies, as well as strategic and geopolitical decisions, will impact the battery and electromobility sectors, creating both opportunities and challenges.
23 EU Energy Ministers and representatives from the solar sector signed the Solar Charter as a commitment to support European solar manufacturing.
Despite the fact that the prices of solar panels have not dropped any further, there is certainly no price recovery yet. As a result, the selling price gap between European and Chinese solar panels remains so large that European producers are in serious trouble, according to Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar. "European producers are at a standstill and will certainly not be able to keep that up for another six months."
Sodium-ion batteries have several advantages over conventional batteries. They contain no critical raw materials such as lithium or cobalt - and could make stationary energy storage and electromobility much more cost-effective. There is still a lack of the necessary energy storage materials for production.
The European Commission has published its ‘Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027,’ where it decided to form an official Co-Programmed European Partnership for solar with the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP PV).
Commercial storage manufacturer Tesvolt has started construction of a new large-scale factory at its headquarters in Wittenberg, eastern Germany. With a planned production capacity of four gigawatt hours per year, it will be one of the largest facilities for stationary battery storage systems in Europe.
The electricity industry and energy intensives join forces to boost Europe’s industrial competitiveness in a net-zero economy.
Engin Yaman, Managing Director of LONGi Germany, on current market developments, the security of supply chains and price developments, the discussion on Chinese price dumping and the business strategy for Europe and Germany.
The Australian federal government is investing $1 billion in the Solar Sunshot program to booster domestic PV manufacturing and the solar supply chain.
AGC Group has announced that it has succeeded for the first time in Japan in a demonstration test to recycle cover glass for solar modules into float glass. With the success of this test, AGC expects that cover glass can be used to make float glass.
In 2023 India added 20.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar modules and3.2 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity, according to Mercom India.
The criteria for BloombergNEF's Tier 1 list, which is seen by the solar industry as a seal of assurance, has recently been adjusted. The number of the manufacturers on the top list has been halved, notes Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar. "As many as 26 have dropped out, which means that Tier 1 really serves as an elite list again, but the way this has been done is quite outrageous."
Chinese PV module and cell manfacturer Longi and London based Ferroglobe PLC, producer of Silicon Metal and Ferroalloys, have entered into a long-term supply agreement.
The PV market is booming. But European manufacturers are in crisis mode due to the overwhelmingly favourable competition from China. Companies such as Meyer Burger are threatening to close down module production. They are calling for resilience bonuses, among other incentives.
In recognition of her contribution to the European solar sector, SolarPower Europe presented the inaugural European Solar Champion Award to EU Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson.
In the newly organised development centre, module manufacturers can use extensive equipment to further develop their technologies. Fraunhofer ISE supports manufacturers in the further development of their products.
Spain has introduced a new incentive scheme aimed at strengthening its clean-tech supply chain, including PV manufacturing. The initiative is endorsed by the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC).
In its 1st quarter 2024 report, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) still lists Sunova Solar as a Tier 1 module manufacturer.While 43% of module manufacturers were removed from the BNEF list, Sunova fulfilled the new criteria of providing minimum 6 projects with 5 MW or larger size.
The solar industry is still waiting for Solar Package I. Several manufacturers have repeatedly called for resilience bonuses, i.e. additional remuneration for domestic components in the construction of solar power plants. Module manufacturer Meyer Burger is now drawing the consequences and announcing the closure of its Freiberg plant at the end of April.
Solar modules for integration into vehicles: Opes Solar Mobility is building a new factory for this purpose in Zwenkau, Saxony. The location was chosen carefully.
The new Dutch program SolarNL now started. It aims to build up a strong PV cell and module manufacturing industry in the Netherlands and is financed publicly and privately.
