430 European companies oppose the EU s tariffs on Chinese solar products

Mondo Technology Updated on 2024-01-19

Kunpeng Project European solar developers fear that the EU will take draconian protectionist measures against low-cost solar imports from China. SolarPower Europe, the European solar energy industry association, warned in a statement that it opposes "irresponsible protective measures," according to Germany's "Daily Mirror". The organization writes on the occasion of an upcoming meeting between EU business representatives and EU Internal Market Commissioner Breton that tariff measures are currently being considered at the EU level.

Solar and wind power are booming in EuropeMore than 90% of the EU's wafers and modules come from China

SolarPower Europe claims that 429 companies have signed the statement, including large energy companies EON, ENBW, RWE, Enpal, Zola, SMA, Sens, MaxSolar, Juwi, LichTblick, 1KOMMA5° and others. Walburga Hemetsberger, president of Solar Europe, said she was "alarmed" by rumours that the European Commission could launch an investigation into the solar industry, the statement said. In 2024, the number of jobs in the European PV industry will not reach 8920,000, and if such measures are taken, the industry is at risk of losing about 290,000 jobs by 2025.

The German newspaper Tagesspiegel pointed out in a report and statement that the anti-dumping policy in the past did not work. After these measures were introduced, investment and installations fell sharply, and costs rose, but PV production in Europe has not recovered. That's why they were reversed five years ago for good reason. The association advocates for the promotion of domestic production and the qualitative barriers to market access – setting sustainability standards for eco-friendly production, etc.

SolarPower Europe doesn't explicitly mention imposing tariffs on solar modules imported from China, but according to industry sources, that's exactly what the term "defensive measures" means. The EU imposed restrictions on the import of Chinese solar panels, cells and wafers from 2013 to 2018, but more than 90% of wafers and modules still come from China.

European workers install solar panelsFrance has also pushed for an investigation into Chinese solar products

To this end, the European Union** has now spoken out that it may launch a new investigation into Chinese solar products and impose tariffs. Just this week, the German Federal Solar Energy Industry Association (BSW Solar) called on the federal government to join other European countries in "taking quick and effective measures to protect and relocate the European solar industry," according to Der Spiegel. The letter calls for a realignment of the tender criteria for wind and solar parks, taking into account "qualitative criteria" when financing, in particular climate-friendly technologies and socially sustainable chains. The signatories hope that this will slow down Chinese manufacturers and strengthen European industry. However, other EU member states face the threat of resistance, which they fear could make the cost of expansion significantly higher.

Von der Leyen and Macron agree to an investigation into Chinese solar productsJust recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened an investigation into electric car imports from China and may choose to impose tariffs. And this is the requirement of France. According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, a letter from Paris suggested that European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis take defensive measures against China's PV module imports and promised to communicate formally with France. France is interested in protecting domestic manufacturers of solar technology.

Spain's energy minister, Theresa Ribeira, also said in October that tariffs on imports of materials used in solar power would not be ruled out. While the focus tends to be on China, Europe must catch up with the US, whose inflation reduction bill means "the US model beats Europe 5-0".

The development of solar energy security in the EU countries"Europe cannot be profitable".

At the same time, EU solar companies are heading to places like the United States. Meyer Burger of Switzerland, Germany's largest solar cell maker, recently threatened to move its production to the United States. At the end of July, Meyer Burger announced that he would rather invest in the United States than continue to invest in Germany. The group wants to build a new factory in Arizona, USA, and from there** "Made in America" solar cells from the end of 2024. Meyer Burger made this decision because of the huge subsidies from the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). IRAs are influencing the development of green technology in Europe.

In response, the EU plans to increase subsidies to compete with the United States. But Clemens Foster, director of the IFO Institute in Munich, said: "If you have to subsidize the economy for a long time, it means you're losing. "Keeping businesses in the country through subsidies is 'self-harming' in the long run. Tobias Gerk of the European Council on Foreign Relations said that if we really want Europe to become more independent of China in strategically important areas, then we must be prepared to stop such an outflow.

Biden's support for American-made solar energy was launched just this spring when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen laid out an ambitious goal – the Net Zero Industry Act. By 2030, 40% of key green industries, including the solar industry, should be produced in Europe.

Europe can't be profitable" – the solar industry warns the EU of obstacles to green technology development. Reuters reported that a report by Rystad Energy wrote that the cost of Chinese-made solar panels is only two-thirds that of European-made solar panels. Experts point out that this is due to rising energy and labor costs and the lack of a competitive ** chain. In the third quarter of last year, EU industrial customers paid about twice the retail price for electricity in China, according to the European Commission.

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