As of: February 2, 2024, 2:46 p.m
By: Amy Walker
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Press
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Production of solar modules at the Solarwatt GmbH factory in Dresden.
© Robert Michael/dpa
Solar manufacturers in Germany find themselves with their backs to the wall due to overwhelming competition from China - and are threatening to stop production.
Now the states are urging the federal government to support them.
Berlin/Dresden - In the struggle for the future of the solar industry in Germany, the Federal Council has called for federal support for the industry.
On Friday (February 2nd), the state chamber approved an initiative from Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, according to which the Bundestag should adopt the so-called Solar Package I as quickly as possible.
In order to help the industry in Germany and Europe in the short term, so-called resilience tenders and bonuses should also be anchored in the Renewable Energy Sources Act.
A higher feed-in tariff would then be paid for solar systems that are primarily produced in Europe.
Dumping prices from China threaten the solar industry
“Dumping attacks and cheap imports of Chinese solar modules, which are sold off at well below manufacturing costs, are endangering our solar industry,” said Saxony’s Energy Minister Wolfram Günther (Alliance 90/Greens).
One-sided dependencies in the energy sector are dangerous for the national economy, as has been shown with Russian gas.
“Our solar industry needs perspective and a level playing field again.
The ball is in the Bundestag and the Federal Ministry of Finance.”
Saxony-Anhalt's Energy Minister Armin Willingmann (SPD) also called on the federal government to act quickly: "We urgently need adequate funding for the solar industry in the state in order to secure our production capacities and to encourage expansion in this country." He referred to the USA , where the solar industry is expanding locations on a large scale.
At the same time, he emphasized that new regulations should not have negative effects on electricity consumers or the pace of expansion.
In view of the current misery, several solar companies are considering stopping their production in Germany.
The reason given is that Chinese manufacturers flooded the market with modules at dumping prices.
(wal/dpa)