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Bankruptcy shock: Europe's last solar glass manufacturer bankrupt!
The Brandenburg glass factory in Tschernitz files for bankruptcy, affecting 250 jobs due to strong competition from China.
Bankruptcy shock: Europe's last solar glass manufacturer bankrupt!
The solar industry in Germany is facing a deep turning point: The Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH in Tschernitz filed for bankruptcy on July 7, 2025. This company is the last of its kind in all of Europe and employed around 250 people who now have to fear for their existence.
The closure of the business is not surprising, as the location has been in economic difficulties for a long time. Managing director Nico Succolowsky felt forced to take this step. Another sign of the difficulties is that 247 employees have already been on short-time work since March 2025. Brandenburg's Economics Minister Daniel Keller expressed disappointment about the bankruptcy and noted that under the current conditions there is no market for solar glass from Tschernitz.
Competitive pressure from foreign competition
A main reason for the bankruptcy is the high energy prices and the immense competition from subsidized products from China. In 2024, solar systems worth 1.8 billion euros were imported to Germany, with an impressive 86 percent of them coming from Chinese production. At the beginning of the year, Keller had already called for measures to ensure the competitiveness of the domestic solar glass industry and pointed out the dumping prices of imports.
The comprehensive pressure on the local industry is also supported by a study by Federal Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), which shows that around 107.5 gigawatts of solar capacity are now installed in Germany. The aim is to achieve a target of 215 gigawatts by 2030. It is therefore important to quickly find solutions to promote domestic production and regain market share.
A worrying trend
GMB's insolvency comes at a time when... Solar expansion in Germany is stalling. After a boom in recent years, there are already signs of an impending wave of insolvencies in the craft sector. Although the number of installers has doubled since 2020, demand for home systems is falling. Experts warn of an oversupply of solar power as more and more companies struggle to compete in the market.
Peter Knuth, managing director of a solar trade, reports difficulties in recruiting and problems with procurement of materials. Ask yourself the questions: How is the industry supposed to thrive in such a difficult environment? And how can politicians ensure that local companies do not go under? The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems recently found that Germany has lost market share due to targeted Chinese industrial policy. It's time to put a stop to it.
The district has already promised support for the affected employees and the community of Tschernitz. But will that be enough to pull the cart out of the mud? One thing is clear: the socio-political impact of this bankruptcy is significant and could have wide implications.