Demand for European-made PV manufacturing gear jumped by 62% in Q2 2022, with European orders surpassing these from Asian international locations for the primary time, in line with analysis by engineering business affiliation VDMA.
European producers noticed gross sales of their PV engineering techniques rise 62% on Q1, with gross sales in Europe hovering by an element of 4. Equally, European orders acquired within the first two quarters of 2022 have already exceeded the worth of whole European orders in 2021. And VDMA is anticipating this gross sales development to proceed into Q3.
A 3rd of gross sales are attributable to techniques for module manufacturing, stated VDMA, which has been compiling such statistics since 2008.
“Previously, the Asian market was the biggest for German PV manufacturing machines and system producers, however orders in Europe have elevated for the reason that first quarter of 2022 and are anticipated to proceed to extend,” stated Jutta Trube, VDMA’s division head for Photovoltaic Manufacturing Tools.
“Usually we count on to proceed to see robust demand as numerous international locations present growing curiosity in new native PV manufacturing.”
Certainly, Europe, just like the US and India, has been very specific in its need to determine a regional PV manufacturing base. Nevertheless, whereas the US’s Inflation Discount Act (IRA) appears set to turbocharge photo voltaic manufacturing and with India aiming so as to add 65GW of PV module manufacturing capability via an prolonged incentive scheme, Europe is but to announce a manufacturing technique as coherent and properly funded.
PV Tech Premium has reported how European photo voltaic PV producers fighting hovering electrical energy costs have flagged issues that the continent is falling behind the US and India by way of coverage help for the sector.
“At present international locations like USA and India are introducing very engaging initiatives to spice up PV manufacturing; the identical is required in Europe,” stated Peter Fath, managing director of RCT Options and chairman of the VDMA Photovoltaic Manufacturing Tools division.
“A rise in initiatives in Europe and the political will to determine PV manufacturing in the whole worth chain, are a chance for the additional use of PV manufacturing sources within the EU.”
The CEOs of firms reminiscent of First Photo voltaic, BayWa r.e. and Meyer Burger have written to the European Fee (EC) to name for pressing motion to help the redevelopment of European PV manufacturing.
On the identical day, the EC formally endorsed a brand new Photo voltaic Photovoltaic Trade Alliance, with the goal of scaling up the manufacturing of progressive PV merchandise and parts.
Regardless of the robust demand statistics outlined by VDMA, European photo voltaic manufacturing is at growing threat from excessive power costs, with Maxeon pressured to shutter certainly one of its module services in France.
Round 35GW of PV manufacturing tasks in Europe are liable to being mothballed as elevated energy costs injury the continent’s efforts to construct a photo voltaic provide chain, analysis from Rystad Power stated.
