Saxony calls on federal government to help solar industry

In the struggle for the future of the solar industry in Germany, Saxony's Environment Minister Wolfram Günther has called for rapid federal support for the sector. "In order to secure solar production in Germany, we need a quick decision for a protected market segment with resilience criteria," wrote the Green politician in a letter to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and Environment Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) published on Tuesday. In line with the resolutions of the Bundesrat, so-called resilience tenders and bonuses should be passed in the Bundestag as quickly as possible and anchored in the Renewable Energy Sources Act. Then, for example, a higher feed-in tariff would be paid for solar systems that are primarily produced in Europe.

These instruments would give European photovoltaic companies the opportunity to continue their economic activities in the long term under the current conditions on the global market, Günther said in the letter. The solar industry is important for the economic strength of eastern Germany, the minister emphasized. Most of the modules produced in Germany come from Saxony, with six companies reportedly producing in the Free State. They are an important building block for the German and European solar industry.

Some solar companies are considering discontinuing their production in Germany in view of the current plight. Meyer Burger, for example, recently announced that it was preparing to close its plant in Freiberg. The reason given was that Chinese manufacturers were flooding the market with modules at dumping prices.