EU Solar PV Industry Alliance

Securing a diversification of supplies through more diverse imports and scaled up solar PV manufacturing in the EU of innovative and sustainable solar PVs would contribute to mitigate supply risks for the necessary massive deployment of solar energy in the EU. This objective will be supported by an EU Solar Industry Alliance.

The alliance will bring together industrial actors, research institutes, consumer associations and other stakeholders with an interest in the solar PV sector, including the emerging circularity industry. The Alliance will work to identify and coordinate investment opportunities, project pipelines and technology portfolios and establish pathways for the solar industrial ecosystem in Europe.

It will provide a framework for coordinating actions aimed at the development and uptake of new, more efficient and sustainable technologies.

It will cover innovation/technology, industrial supply chain, finance, regulation, skills and citizen engagement, and provide advice to the EU and the Member States. The alliance will map the availability of financial support, attract private investment and facilitate the dialogue and match-making between producers and offtakers.

At EU level, the following EU programmes are particularly relevant:
– InvestEU can provide de-risked financing to private investments channelled via the European Investment Bank and other public finance institutions.
– The Innovation Fund can also channel funding towards innovative zero and lowcarbon equipment, such as solar panels and their components.
– Recovery and resilience and Cohesion policy funds can support relevant projects boosting local development.

The alliance will include a research and innovation pillar with strong links to Horizon Europe.

Circularity and sustainability will also be in its focus. It will promote coordination across the value chain to facilitate higher recycling efficiencies. It will monitor developments in this sector and anticipate possible bottlenecks, in particular with regard to access to safe and sustainable raw materials. It could discuss potential targets for material recovery rates.

Finally, the alliance will cooperate with the EU large-scale Skills Partnership for onshore renewables to promote the development of a skilled workforce for the solar manufacturing sector.