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At an Informal Energy Ministerial in Brussels, 23 EU Energy Ministers alongside approximately 100 representatives from the European solar sector gathered to sign the EU Solar Charter, marking a significant milestone in the commitment to support European solar manufacturing.
The signing ceremony took place at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels and saw the participation of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and The Netherlands.
The EU Solar Charter serves as a joint commitment from both governments and the solar sector to bolster European solar manufacturing. It outlines a series of voluntary actions aimed at promoting the integration of solar PV products into the portfolios of relevant market players and incorporating resilience considerations in PV offtakers’ procurement strategies.
Moreover, the Charter emphasizes the importance of maintaining and, where possible, expanding the current production capacity in Europe to meet the expected growing demand for solar products. This commitment is underscored by public and private sector pledges.
Furthermore, the EU Solar Charter advocates for the early implementation of relevant regulatory frameworks and the promotion of innovative forms of solar energy deployment. These include agri-PV, floating solar, infrastructure-integrated PV, vehicle-integrated PV, and building-integrated PV, among others.
Here’s what the CEO of SolarPower Europe, Walburga Hemetsberger said in connection with the signing:
“Solar in Europe has skyrocketed in recent years. Building on the 2022 EU Solar Strategy, the EU Solar Charter reinforces the reality that solar PV is now a mainstream energy technology. Europe, and the world, is banking on solar to guide us out of the climate and energy crisis towards a new era of green prosperity and security.
The Solar Charter is an important moment of recognition. The continent’s governments have made a high-level promise to our manufacturers, recognising their critical role in the strategic supply chains of today and tomorrow. Nevertheless, we continue to urge rapid action and concrete measures at national and EU level to support manufacturers. This means rolling out resilience criteria in public procurement and auctions as soon as possible, unlocking subsidy support, and establishing dedicated EU financing for solar.
With manufacturers in crisis, and the double-digit growth of solar deployment under threat from grid and permitting delays, the EU Solar Charter is one chapter in Europe’s solar story. Delivering accelerated solar deployment growth is key to ensuring a market for European solar manufacturers – it is important that Ministers also took the opportunity today to discuss Europe’s energy infrastructure and supporting the flexibility of our grid. We look forward to this issue being further tackled by ministers and Heads of State at upcoming Councils.” |
