Recording of Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 23:10 .

EU Solar Manufacturing Seeks Simplified Support Amidst Policy Challenges at Intersolar Conference

The transcript delves into the dynamic landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative effects across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and transportation. It emphasizes AI's role in enhancing efficiency and accuracy while addressing concerns about data privacy and ethical considerations. The dialogue underscores the necessity for robust regulatory frameworks to ensure responsible AI use alongside fostering innovation. Discussions also highlight potential job displacement due to automation but recognize emerging opportunities requiring human-AI collaboration skills. Education systems are urged to adapt curricula for future generations' digital competencies, with a call for international cooperation on setting standards for global challenges. In parallel, during an Intersolar conference session led by Dries Acke from SolarPower Europe, discussions centered around Europe's solar manufacturing prospects amidst existing capabilities yet underutilized resources like modules and polysilicon production by Wacker Chemie AG. Despite ambitions set by the Net Zero Industry Act targeting 30 gigawatts of capacity annually against projected demands nearing 70 gigawatts per year—achieving this necessitates substantial investment estimated at €4.7 billion-€6.4 billion yearly over ten years through combined "push" financial incentives with "pull" market creation strategies. Revisions in EU state aid rules aim at simplifying subsidies among member states; however recent drafts indicate complexities persist regarding operational expenditure support versus capital expenditures allowances regionally impacting investments adversely within solar manufacturing domains throughout Europe currently advocating dedicated financing facilities potentially benefiting inverter industries linked cybersecurity issues further discussed via Important Projects Common European Interests lacking focus presently towards reshoring efforts increasing production capacities ultimately aiming achieving upbeat upwards dynamics envisioned next decade ahead effectively tackling climate change imperatives globally today urgently needed now!

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Speaker

Dries Acke
Deputy CEO
SolarPower Europe
Belgium

Talk of session: Solar Manufacturing in Europe: Progress, Setbacks & Outlook

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Europe's dependence on imported solar products continues to grow. While the European solar market is growing, domestic manufacturers across the entire value chain are struggling, losing market share, shutting down facilities, or exiting the sector due to declining profitability. So far, support from Brussels and national governments has been insufficient and too slow to create the conditions needed for a revival of European solar manufacturing. Now, hopes are pinned on the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which aims to boost local production through domestic content requirements in auctions and public procurement. This session will provide: Update on the European solar manufacturing landscape across the value chain Cost-competitiveness analysis of European solar manufacturers Insights into policy support, investment opportunities, and start-up potential for European PV manufacturing High-level panel discussion on the future of solar manufacturing in Europe

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome & Introduction

Speaker

Dries Acke
Deputy CEO
SolarPower Europe
Belgium

Video is not available.

Global Supply, Demand and Price Developments Impacting Solar Manufacturing in Europe

Speaker

Alan Tu
Solar Analyst
InfoLink Consulting Co,. Ltd.
China

To Talk

Cost Comparison Wafer-To-Module Manufacturing Cost in Europe and Abroad

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Peter Fath
CEO
RCT Solutions GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Panel Discussion

Speaker

To Talk