While the sector supports the IAA’s purpose to strengthen Europe’s industrial capacity in clean technologies and ensure a level playing field in face of unfairly subsidised overcapacities from third countries, the signatories stress that the current draft of the IAA could undermine the competitiveness of a largely Europe-based industry and weaken the EU’s broader clean energy and industrial ambitions.
The joint call says that the solar thermal sector must be represented in the Act because:
It currently meets around 90 percent of European demand for solar thermal technologies and can rapidly scale up production, with more than 100 manufacturing sites across the continent.
It represents a vibrant industry, with many companies actively exporting worldwide.
It is composed almost entirely of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) well established in their communities, creating local growth, skilled jobs and economic value.
In the letter, industry representatives also warn that inconsistent policy signals and increasing global competition are already putting pressure on the market. Against this backdrop, the sector calls for concrete policy action to restore visibility and support for solar thermal.
The letter urges policymakers to reintroduce solar thermal into the IAA, ensure a level playing field with other renewable technologies and develop concrete policy calls to unlock its full potential in Europe’s energy transition.
“The last-minute unjustified deletion of the references to solar thermal in the IAA seriously risks further weakening demand signals for EU manufactured solar thermal collectors, tilting the playing field towards cheaper imports and undermining the European solar thermal value chain that supports thousands of manufacturing and skilled supply chain jobs across the EU” the letter says. “Our sector invests, innovates and decarbonises access to energy for citizens and industries every day, and stands ready to meet a growing demand. Solar thermal energy can make a vital contribution to the continent's energy transition and energy independence. We call on policy makers to recognise this contribution by moving from words to action. Solar Heat Europe and its members remain available for a constructive and open dialogue to progress the above measures. We count on your support to give visibility to a truly “made in Europe” renewable technology which is ready to scale up. Thank you.”
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