The new plant in Colorado is scheduled to start production in the fourth quarter of 2024.
(Photo: IMAGO/Sylvio Dittrich)
Zurich The Swiss solar module manufacturer Meyer Burger wants to build another plant for high-performance solar cells in Colorado Springs in the US state of Colorado. The plant, with an initial capacity of two gigawatts per year, will supply the North American market, the company announced on Monday.
For the US plans, even machines that were actually intended for the cell factory that is also under construction in Germany are to be diverted. “We’ll continue in Thalheim when the general conditions in Europe are right,” announced Meyer Burger boss Günter Erfurt on Monday.
The solar manager had repeatedly criticized the production conditions in Europe. Erfurt made it clear that Germany and Europe as a business location are still supported, but if the situation does not change, “the EU targets for the expansion of solar energy will remain a pipe dream and nobody will invest here,” Erfurt warned.
The resettlement of the solar industry is actually one of the priorities of the European Union. Commission head Ursula von der Leyen has set the goal that by 2030 at least 40 percent of the photovoltaic systems newly installed in Europe should come from European plants.
In fact, there is a lot going on. Not only Meyer Burger, but also Holosolis and others are currently setting up production again in this country. The Federal Ministry of Economics wants to promote investments in its own country. Specifically, it is about a total production capacity of around ten gigawatts along the entire value chain, i.e. from silicon production to cells and solar modules. To do this, interested parties must prove that they really need the state subsidies, i.e. would not make the investment without subsidies.
The interest should be great. Nevertheless: Last year, solar modules with a total output of almost 270 gigawatts were produced worldwide, although only eight gigawatts were accounted for in Europe.
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“The government in the USA has recognized the importance of cleantech and has taken the right actions,” explains Meyer Burger boss Erfurt. “We’re a long way from that in Europe.” For example, the city of Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado provided financial support of 90 million dollars for the energy costs. Meanwhile, Europe is still discussing an industrial electricity price, criticizes Erfurt.
Funding commitments also in Europe
The start of production in the USA is planned for the fourth quarter of 2024. In total, Meyer Burger is to receive an eligible sum of up to $1.4 billion, which can be monetized from the start of production in 2024 until the end of 2032. Upfront payments from module buyers and loans from the Department of Energy totaling more than $300 million have also been committed. Erfurt did not rule out further investments in the USA, also this year.
Just a few days ago, the Brussels-based company received a funding commitment of more than 200 million euros. This is intended to create additional production of solar cells and solar modules with a total capacity of up to 3.5 gigawatts. “The money is project-related and will also go towards building a factory in Europe. This has nothing to do with the decision to stop the expansion of the existing production for the time being,” Erfurt clarified.
The construction of a factory of this size costs a total of up to 800 million euros. That is why this project will only be able to be tackled when the general conditions in Europe improve.
More: “Europe is currently not a good place to invest in the solar industry”