SolarPower Europe sounds alarm on cheap solar imports

SolarPower Europe has warned that record-low prices of solar imports jeopardise the rebirth of EU solar manufacturing.

In a letter to the European Commission (EC) on Monday, the European solar association said that prices of photovoltaic (PV) modules have fallen by over 25% since the start of the year down to less than EUR 0.15 (USD 0.16) per watt for low-cost products, sinking even below pre-Covid levels.

“Europe’s original solar manufacturing base was lost a decade ago. If we don’t respond rapidly and appropriately to this price crisis, we’re looking at another wave of bankruptcies, and a false start for EU's open strategic autonomy agenda,” said SolarPower Europe chief executive Walburga Hemetsberger.

The letter comes after ingot producer Norwegian Crystals filed for bankruptcy in August.

The organisation proposes a number of actions to tackle the situation, including emergency buyouts of European PV manufacturer’s module inventories, the creation of a Solar Manufacturing Bank at EU level, and speeding up the adoption of the Net Zero Industry Act, including sustainability and resilience non-price criteria in specific auctions.

The letter can be read on the website of SolarPower Europe.

In her 2023 State of the Union Address on Wednesday, EC president Ursula von der Leyen promised a European Wind Power package to help the wind industry with the challenges it is facing.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.073)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!