September 18, 2025

European Solar Industry leaders urge the EU to adopt an Action Plan for solar energy production

The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) and SolarPower Europe (SPE) call for additional mesures to revitalise the Europe’s solar photovoltaic (PV) sector.

In a joint letter addressed to the European Commission, in particular Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and the EU Director-General Kerstin Jorna, the two associations underline the urgency of a concrete and decisive political intervention to secure the future of the Europe’s PV industry.

The actions must go beyond the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) including: production linked support, inclusion of “Made in Europe” in Public Procurement, and better financing conditions.

“Europe’s solar industry is at a crossroads. Without immediate, coordinated action, Europe risks losing its remaining solar manufacturing base. We call on EU leaders to turn the ambition of the Net-Zero Industry Act into reality,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

The letter outlines five key recommendations that EU leaders should commit to at the Ministerial meeting and ESIA Forum, that can be summarised as follows:

    1. A European PV Industry 2030 Action Plan – A political roadmap to rebuild and expand solar manufacturing capacities along the full value chain.
    2. Revision of EU Public Procurement Legislation – To reward resilience, cybersecurity, and EU content, ensuring “Made in Europe” solar is included in public procurement.
    3. A New Cleantech Manufacturing Fund – Under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, with a dedicated facility for solar covering both CAPEX and OPEX support.
    4. Expansion of Temporary OPEX Support – Extending the Clean Industrial State Aid Framework Chapter 6 to all solar value chain segments to prevent further factory closures and retain skilled workers.
    1. 5. Increased Role for the European Investment Bank (EIB) – Including low- or zero-interest loans, counter-guarantees, and “Made in Europe” criteria for supported projects.

 

The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA)

The NZIA is an initiative stemming from the Green Deal Industrial Plan which aims to scale up the manufacturing capabilities for clean technologies in the EU, which include renewable energy sources, carbon capture and storage, and alternative fuels.  This means increasing the EU’s manufacturing capacity of technologies that support the clean energy transition and release extremely low, zero or negative greenhouse gas emissions when they operate.

NZIA Key Objectives

  1. Self-Sufficiency: The NZIA sets a goal for the EU to produce at least 40% of its annual demand for net-zero technologies within its borders by 2030. This is intended to reduce reliance on imports and enhance energy security. 
  2. Streamlining Regulations: The act aims to simplify bureaucratic processes and improve approval procedures for strategic projects related to net-zero technologies. This includes reducing administrative burdens to facilitate faster project implementation. 
  3. Investment Mobilization: The NZIA seeks to attract investments through various incentives and support mechanisms, including the establishment of the “Net-Zero-Europe” platform and the European Hydrogen Bank. 
  4. Innovation and Development: The act encourages the establishment of real laboratories for testing and developing innovative clean technologies, fostering an environment conducive to research and development.