European leadership has failed to create a self-help industry. Public financing of photovoltaic technology have helped create a local industry, but has been unable to compete with Chinese labor costs. The result has been that the panels "made in China have taken advantage of European growth and have flooded the market.
Winfried Hoffmann, vice president of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has been clear during the opening of the World Photovoltaic Conference held in Valencia: "there are Chinese companies that have U.S. $ 12,000 million (9,500 million euros) to investigate and be more competitive. For this reason it is necessary for Europe to maintain the investments. "
Similarly, Marie Donnelly, director of energy efficiency and innovation of the European Commission has indicated that "if the Chinese energy industry receives low-interest loans, competition is no longer balanced, and this should be taken into account in the design of an industrial policy that allows Europe to compete in a global marketplace. "
After two issues underlie these reflections capital. The need to maintain the public aid to development of the photovoltaic industry and the need for business and enterprise platforms have the support of a common industrial policy.
The Spanish case
A specific situation that exists in Spain has spoken in Valencia, Juan Laso. The president of the Photovoltaic Industry Association has called for stability and legal certainty "to generate a new industrial base in the field of renewables."
Spain is probably the country where they are tougher criticism of public support for solar photovoltaics. According to data from the European Commission, subsidies granted by the Spanish State are lower than those existing in Germany, France and Italy.
More information:
www.photovoltaic-conference.com
