"(...) Europe is now its largest export market for solar products, according to a China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) report on the outlook for the PV industry over the next few years" pv-tech.org/china-expected…
Due to the energy policy failures in the West especially in the last 10 years, whether in the #EU or in the #USA, the urgently needed #energytransition is currently not possible without Chinese products.
In other words: besides the strategic dependencies on #natural gas, #oil and #uranium, which we feel so much right now, we have created with our eyes wide open the next #dependency also on #solar energy.
Not only politics has missed opportunities here, but also industry including #MeyerBurger. We have to ask ourselves whether it is good to support products "that are cheap but have their price".
It is good that China takes #solar industry so seriously and was able to bring it to the #gigawatt level based on #EU technology. Today, China is allowed to supply #solar modules to its biggest export market #Europe w/o any restrictions (no tariffs, exemption from #EU #RoHS).
@meyerburger, the only European mass producer of #solar cells and #solar modules with manufacturing in Germany has to pay massive import duties on all components that do not come from #EU. We are being punished by the #EU for producing in the #EU. @ThierryBreton @vonderleyen
Our products do not need any exemption from the #EU #RoHS regulation, we don't need toxic lead. We do the latter out of conviction and because we can do it technologically. We are not advocating for tariffs, but for fair competition.
What is currently happening is simply unfair and supports a perpetuation of the current strategically unwise conditions and #dependencies. If the #EU is really serious about the #GreenDeal, it is imperative to react in terms of energy and economic policy.
So far, nothing has really happened except announcements. But if it happens, #Europe will become truly independent of energy imports for the first time. At the same time, we will create #jobs and new export products.
The #energy transition must be implemented by all countries on earth. #Europe can lead this, but it must not only be talked about but acted upon. And fast. @EU_Commission @BMWK @BFEenergeia
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