European solar industry threatened by cheap Chinese solar modules

In view of an increased number of cheap Chinese solar modules on the European market, the energy ministers of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt have called for rapid protective measures from the EU. The solar industry in the region is in acute danger, said Saxony's Energy Minister Wolfram Günther (Greens). "And with it the European solar industry, because the most important companies in the EU are concentrated in our federal states." By the end of the year, he said, twice as many solar modules would be stored in European ports and warehouses as were added in the EU last year. "China is waging a fierce dumping attack against us," Günther said.

The European solar industry is currently exposed to unfair competition, said Saxony-Anhalt's environment minister Armin Willingmann (SPD). There must be measures at the European level. In particular, Chinese products from forced labor should be put a stop to. "It is regrettable that the EU acts here so far quite ponderous."

In the solar industry in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt work more than 1000 people. However, it is not only about production, but above all also about research, Willingmann stressed. Because capacities had also been built up here in other federal states, the topic had also been discussed at the conference of energy ministers in Wernigerode (Saxony-Anhalt). Most recently, the solar company Meyer Burger, which has sites in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, had announced that it would initially not continue to invest in the region, but instead in the U.S.