Minister President Kretschmer calls for rapid aid for the solar industry

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) continues to insist on swift help from the federal government for the domestic solar industry. Otherwise, he told the German Press Agency in Dresden on Thursday that this important industry for the energy transition in Germany and Europe would be at risk of collapse. "At stake is not only the continued existence of domestic solar module manufacturers, but also of companies along the entire value chain as well as the associated research and development. Last but not least, thousands of jobs are also at risk." The federal government must urgently ensure that framework conditions are created that allow this key industry to continue to exist in Germany.

The state premiers had already called on the federal government to take action at their conference in Berlin on Wednesday. "It is foreseeable that without swift intervention, domestic companies will not be able to survive in the unfair competition with their Chinese rivals," they stated in a resolution. "There is a risk of losing an industry that is essential for the success of the energy transition and, as a result, of Germany and Europe becoming even more dependent on non-European production." The solar packages designed by the federal government should be implemented without further delay and be geared towards improving the framework conditions for the entire solar industry.

Manufacturers of solar modules in Germany had come under pressure from cheap Chinese imports. The Swiss company Meyer Burger has threatened to close its plant in Freiberg, Saxony, if measures for fair competitive conditions are not taken quickly.

On Thursday, the German Solar Industry Association also appealed to the leaders of the traffic light coalition to pass the first solar package with "overdue measures to reduce bureaucracy" in the Bundestag in the coming session week. "Disproportionate bureaucratic hurdles must no longer exclude large sections of the population and companies from access to affordable solar energy and deter climate protection investors," emphasized Managing Director Carsten Körnig. The legally enshrined goal of almost tripling solar power output in Germany over the next seven years can only be achieved with a rapid improvement in investment conditions for solar systems of all output classes on buildings and open spaces.