Wind and solar industry in favor of new tender criteria
Several solar and wind industry associations and companies have called for new tendering criteria in the fight against competition from China. "In these challenging times for Europe as a business location, it is crucial to create an investment framework for future industries that particularly recognizes and promotes the strengths of European value chains," they said in a letter to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Climate-friendly and socially sustainable supply chains should be given greater weight in the promotion of future technologies such as photovoltaics and wind power.
The letter, which was reported in Der Spiegel on Friday, was signed by companies including Meyer Burger, which has production facilities for solar cells and modules in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, and the German Wind Power Industry Association. Meyer Burger had repeatedly criticized an imbalance in conditions in the industry between Germany and countries such as the USA and China. At the same time, Europe wants to become less dependent on imports.
The letter states that the EU Commission presented a draft law with qualitative criteria for tenders in March. A possible weakening would jeopardize the restructuring of the economy. The German government should advocate the binding introduction of qualitative criteria as part of the negotiations in the European Council.
- The German Wind Power Industry Association, along with companies like Meyer Burger that have investments in Solar cell and module production in Germany, strongly support the EU Commission's proposed draft law with qualitative criteria for tenders. They argue that lacking these criteria could hinder the necessary restructuring of the economy towards alternative energies such as solar and wind power.
- The company Meyer Burger, advocating for a more balanced industry, believes that implementing strict qualitative criteria for tenders, as proposed by the EU Commission, would significantly contribute to the country's economic policy, promoting energy sources like electricity generated from renewables and reducing reliance on imports, while adhering to environmental and social standards.
Source: www.dpa.com
