Making solar a source of EU energy security
Europe''s solar dependency on China By 2008, China emerged . s the dominant producer of solar PV panels. By 2012, it accounted for 64 % of worldwide production and, as of 2017,
This European solar revolution is, and will continue to be, predominantly 'made in China'. In 2022, over 95 percent of Europe's solar panels came from China 3, which has established itself as the global hub for solar PV manufacturing (IEA, 2023). Chinese solar panels are becoming cheaper and also more innovative (ETIP PV, 2023).
This is due to lower production costs in China and the EU's decision to lift tariffs on Chinese solar panels in 2018. According to Eurostat data, a staggering 98% of solar panels imported into the EU in 2023 came from China. In monetary terms, the EU imported €19.7 billion worth of solar PV panels from China in 2023.
If nothing changes, this expansion will be based almost exclusively on solar panels imported from China, which supplies over 95 percent of solar panels used in the EU. This dependence has raised concerns about EU economic security and geopolitical vulnerabilities, especially in light of recent global disruption.
of the ongoing aggression against Ukraine. With Europe importing 80 % of its solar panels from China, dependencies would merely shift from imported oil or gas to imported solar equipment, leaving much to be desired when it comes to the solar sector as a genuine sourc
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