Open Letter: Urgent Call for Action to Ensure a Sustainable Future for European PV Manufacturing

Solar photovoltaics (PV) is a sector of strategic importance for the EU economy, providing energy independence, industrial jobs and economic growth. Europe since two decades is leading in technological development, state-of-the-art manufacturing (industry 4.0), sustainability of production and quality and efficiency of solar products. There is hardly any other sector in the EU which received as much public dedication and thrilled more young people, engineers and scientists. Even if the emergence of huge overcapacities outside Europe led to a severe damage to the EU industry the EU value chain from raw materials and equipment to complete PV solar systems successfully remained intact until now. Together with the support of a unique R&D ecosystem this is the basis for the EU manufacturing industry to keep its significant technological advantage towards industrial followers outside Europe.