Today, the EU’s 27 governments approved the Net-Zero Industry Act in Brussels. The move follows the European Parliament plenary vote in April and marks the final step of the process before publication and entry into force.
SolarPower Europe has issued the following statement in reaction.
Anett Ludwig, Head of Supply Chains at SolarPower Europe (she/her):
“SolarPower Europe welcomes the final adoption of the Net-Zero Industry Act. The importance of the Net-Zero Industry Act for the European clean tech industry cannot be overstated and is demonstrated by its rapid negotiation and conclusion – few EU laws are introduced and agreed within a year.
The implementation of the NZIA must now be as rapid as its adoption. It’s an essential piece of the industrial strategy puzzle. Especially the introduction of resilience criteria in public support schemes will substantially improve offtake visibility for European solar manufacturers at this critical time.
The subsequent Implementation Act of the NZIA must ensure that these new "non-price criteria" are applied consistently and sensibly across the EU. That means they must be technology-specific, phased in gradually, and applied as award criteria instead of prequalifications. This is important to avoid delayed or undersubscribed public auctions negatively impacting the EU's energy transition.
SolarPower Europe is currently finalising its position on what clear and practical criteria for solar auctions look like in order for auctions to contribute to the goal of at least 30 GW of operational solar PV manufacturing capacity by 2030 across the full European PV value chain.
Member States have signed the Solar Charter and should now implement the NZIA as soon as possible – with solar manufacturers in peril, there is no time to lose.
Even with the NZIA concluded, the need for emergency support and for a structural EU fund for scaling solar manufacturing has not vanished. Some manufacturers have weeks left of survival, this emergency requires urgent action from EU and national authorities. SolarPower Europe requests to set up an additional EU financing tool like a Solar Manufacturing Facility under the Innovation Fund.”
Notes
• The Net-Zero Industry Act will create favourable conditions for investment in green technologies by:
a) simplifying the permit-granting process for strategic projects facilitating market access for net-zero technology products (in particular in public procurement or the auctioning of renewable energies)
b) enhancing the skills of the European workforce in these sectors (i.e. with net-zero industry academies and high-concentration industrial areas or 'valleys')
c) creating a platform to coordinate EU action in this area
• European Parliament approve the Net-Zero Industry Act: Statement: European Parliament approve the Net-Zero Industry Act - SolarPower Europe
• EU finalises the Net-Zero Industry Act: Statement: EU finalises the Net-Zero Industry Act - SolarPower Europe
Header image
3Sun solar module factory in Catania, Italy © Enel Green Power
Interested in becoming a member?
Why become a member?
Do you want to stay up-to-date about solar energy?
