In the face of fierce competition from China, various solar and wind industry associations and businesses are urging for new tender criteria. In a letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Minister Robert Habeck, and Minister Christian Lindner, they expressed the importance of creating an investment-friendly framework that acknowledges and bolsters European supply chains. They particularly emphasized the significance of climate-friendly and socially sustainable supply chains in promoting future technologies such as photovoltaics and wind power.
The aforementioned letter, discussed in Der Spiegel, was signed by companies like Meyer Burger, which operates solar cell and module factories in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, along with the German Wind Power Industry Association. Meyer Burger has repeatedly criticized the industry's imbalance between Germany and countries like the USA and China. Moreover, Europe seeks to diminish its dependency on imports.
The letter highlights the EU Commission's March proposal of a qualitative criteria draft for tenders. Weakening these criteria may pose a threat to the economy's restructuring. The German government should advocate for the binding implementation of qualitative criteria during the European Council negotiations.
The German Wind Power Industry Association, with support from companies like Meyer Burger, advocates for specific qualitative tender criteria to foster sustainable growth in the renewable energy sector. These criteria include:
- Harmonizing tender design at the European level for consistency and efficiency.
- Establishing favorable electricity prices to make renewable energy competitive and affordable.
- Strengthening the European value chain and innovative strength by encouraging domestic and European companies to participate.
- Ensuring a high probability of project realization to reduce renewable energy project risks.
- Reducing risks and securing investments through a stable project environment.
- Preserving industry diversity to allow multiple companies to contribute to the growth of the renewable energy sector.
By implementing these criteria, the renewable energy sector can harness its value creation potential, secure necessary investments, and provide project sponsors with reliability for sustainable and balanced growth.
References: 1. 5.
Sources: and
