Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to site search
  • Home
  • All articles of topic solar industry

All articles of topic solar industry

Still looking up? “We’ve seen this before”, says Gerard Scheper.

Expert analysis: Echoes of the past in industry trade measures

-

The US has imposed tariffs of up to 3,521 percent on solar imports from Southeast Asia, echoing similar protectionist measures taken by the EU in 2013. Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar, warns that history may be repeating itself.

 "Selling Chinese solar modules made with slave labour and high emissions must now come to an end in the European market,” says Jens Holm of ESMC.
Opinion

„Put an end to social and environmental dumping in the market“

-

Jens Holm, Sustainability Policy Director of the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC), sees the EU CSDDD Directive and the Forced Labor Regulation as an opportunity for European PV production and as a lever against social and environmental dumping by Chinese manufacturers.

 Andreas Wöll, Managing Director of Eco-Worthy Europe, takes up the cudgels for European-Chinese cooperation in the solar industry.
Opinion

Where is the solar industry in Europe be heading?

-

Andreas Wöll, Managing Director of Eco-Worthy Europe, on the future of the European solar industry and the possibilities and opportunities of European-Chinese cooperation.

Genera 2023 recorded more than 35,000 trade visitors and 402 exhibitors from 21 countries. In 2024 the trade fair expects further growth.
Spain

Genera 2024: 25% exhibitor growth

-

In line with the dynamic nature of the renewable energy sector at the moment and the innovative role of Spanish industry, the International Energy and Environment Trade Fair, Genera 2024 will be held from 6 to 8 de February.

The European PV industry opposes discussed trade restrictions because of expected negative effects.
Manufacturing

European PV industry against solar trade defence measures

-

On the occasion of a high-level European Solar PV Industrial Alliance meeting with Commissioner Thierry Breton, 429 European solar companies have joined a call to EU authorities to take trade defence measures off the table.

The monthly European spot prices for solar modules decreased sharply within the last months.
Financing

Record low PV prices endanger European manufacturing

-

Record-low prices of solar imports risk damaging the EU’s open strategic autonomy goals, SolarPower Europe warns today in a letter to the European Commission.

Wholesalers' warehouses are full. This is putting pressure on prices.
Price development

Modules are becoming cheaper and cheaper

-

One man's sorrow is another man's joy: module prices are continuing to fall. This is good for planners and installers. But wholesalers are coming under even greater pressure.

"Across the whole Chinese supply chain profit margins have evaporated", Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar and guest author of pv Europe, says.
Solar market

Solar energy sector sees prices continue to fall

-

The general expectation was that once China came out of the last lockdown, the Chinese economy would pick up again and take the global economy with it on the way up. Nothing could be further from the truth. The results are so disappointing that the Chinese government no longer even makes all data public. This also affects the solar energy sector, according to Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar.

Huge crows at the opening of The smarter E Europe 2023 in Munich today.
Trade fairs

The smarter E: Renewable energy supply around the clock

-

Renewable energy supply around the clock is already technically and economically possible today. This is demonstrated by The smarter E Europe 2023 which opened its doors today and runs until June 16.

The Swiss photovoltaic industry met in Bern for the 21st time. Here, National Councillor and Swissolar Vice President Gabriela Suter speaks.
Switzerland

Swiss photovoltaics cover seven per cent of electricity demand

-

A central theme of the photovoltaic conference in Switzerland is securing the electricity supply - especially in winter. This is because large-scale alpine plants in particular can make an important contribution in the future. Around 950 participants are live in Bern.

Sunman presents the new flexible module with 520 watts. Front left: Mathias Schoft.
Genera 2023

Sunman shows new lightweight solar module with 520 watts

-

On the second day of the Genera trade fair, the halls are packed. Professionals, companies and private households want to supply themselves with independent solar power. After the abolition of the so-called electricity tax in Spain in 2019, this will be much easier.

There needs to be a renaissance of the manufacturing solar industry in Europe.
Europe

Call for policymakers to strengthen European solar industry

-

Most components within the photovoltaic supply chain are currently manufactured in China. The country has 96 per cent of the global production capacity for silicon wafers. In order to reduce dependencies, representatives of the European solar industry are now demanding action from European policymakers.

The Solar Stewardship Initiative, launched by SolarPower Europe and Solar Energy UK, is a solar-specific supply chain assurance scheme.
Corporate responsibility

Solar industry pushes sustainability supply chain initiative 

-

In the context of EU legislative proposals on corporate responsibility in supply chains, the European solar industry has published its concrete plan towards a more responsible, transparent, and sustainable value chain.

Visit at Meyer Burger plant in Freiberg (Germany).
German Renewable Energy Federation

Strenghten European PV manufacturing

-

During the visit of a delegation of representatives of renewable associations and politics at Meyer Burger in Saxony/Germany it became clear how high the potential of a European PV production is for the regional added value, for energy security and climate protection.

Trine Kopstad Berentsen, CEO  Solar Energy Cluster Norway.
Nordics:

Norway: Solar Energy Cluster demands more ambition for PV

-

The CEO of the Solar Energy Cluster, Trine Kopstad Berentsen, is not impressed with Norway's investment in photovoltaics and demands much more ambition.

Through direct cooperation with its member Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, the Global Solar Council is launching a campaign to channel international support towards Ukraine.
Global Solar Council:

Call to solar industry to support Ukraine

-

The Global Solar Council (GSC)  launches a campaign to channel industry support toward Ukraine with critical equipment.

(Left to right) Günter Maier, COO of Alteso; Michael Oberdorfer, CEO of Alteso; Juan Carlos Arévalo, CEO of GreenPowerMonitor
Acquisition:

GreenPowerMonitor acquires PV analytics platform from Alteso

-

GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV company, has acquired the PV analytics technology platform, PEAK from Alteso, a PV performance improvement specialist located in Vienna, Austria. PEAK’s special algorithms, including machine learning for exploring big data, will be integrated into GPM’s platforms.

The new report aims to provide guidance and encourage solar companies to show leadership in sustainability.
SolarPower Europe:

Solar Sustainability Best Practices Benchmark

-

A new flagship Solar Sustainability Report of SolarPower Europe provides best practices across the entire value Chain.

Torsten Sieker is Global Industry Management Solar Power at Phoenix Contact Electronics in Bad Pyrmont.
My vision:

Torsten Sieker of Phoenix Contact: Implementing sector coupling across the board

-

Phoenix Contact's vision for the energy transition in the future is clean and affordable electricity that is available to everyone everywhere in the world. This vision cannot be realised with solar energy alone.

Under Joe Biden as new President the solar market in the U.S. will accelerate.
New presidency USA:

Solar industry applauds Biden administration

-

The Solar Energy Industries Association (Seia) applauds the re-entry of the United States into the Paris Agreement as announced by the Biden administration.

EU Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans .

EU confirms to increase 2030 renewable target

-

The European Commission confirmed its plan to reduce greenhouse gases at least 55% compared to 1990 levels and to increase its renewable energy target up to 40% by 2030.

Our guest author, Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar.

Disappointing solar energy market leads to global shifts

-

The solar energy market has been in dire straits for some time, but the market is not sitting still. Roughly speaking, three lines can be discerned. The consumer market is shifting to energy storage, the business market is still doing reasonably well – and is also shifting to energy storage – and the focus is shifting to other continents, says Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar.