The last German solar glass manufacturer in Tschernitz files for bankruptcy

The last German solar glass manufacturer in Tschernitz files for bankruptcy

Amid an economic storm, Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH (GBM), Germany's last solar glass factory, has filed for bankruptcy. The company had been fighting for its survival since the end of 2023, but the challenges in the European solar industry were simply too great. 243 jobs are now at risk because the workforce has been put on short-time work. Managing director Nico Succolowsky blames the difficult economic situation for the imbalance and notes that the melting tank in the factory remains cold. The price difference between domestic and Chinese solar glass is enormous: While local glass is sold for 7 to 7.50 euros per square meter, competitors from China can offer competitive prices of around 4 euros. This makes the situation even more tense for GBM and puts the sun in doubt for the German solar industry. According to nd-aktuell, the AfD received 61.9% of the vote in the last federal election in Tschernitz, which underlines the political mood in the region. While there are no refugee accommodations in Tschernitz, the Green Party did not even receive 2% of the vote.

During a visit by Bundestag member Christian Görke (Die Linke) in March 2023, the state's lack of support for the domestic solar industry was already mentioned. “The state has failed,” said Görke, at a time when Robert Habeck was still working as economics minister but is now no longer in office. The situation couldn't be more critical, as not only GBM, but also other companies such as Meyer Burger and Solarwatt are considering reducing production or even closing if no new funding comes. An urgent topic is the discussion about new funding instruments, the resilience bonuses, which are intended to offer higher feed-in tariffs for European products. However, these could also lead to significant additional costs for solar funding. According to Capital, the FDP rejects such market interventions and argues that price competition with low-wage countries cannot be won.

Global challenges of the solar industry

GBM's bankruptcy is not an isolated case. A similar picture also emerges in the USA with the large solar installer Sunnova. Sunnova filed for bankruptcy on June 8, 2025 after the company, which previously had over $10 billion in debt, struggled with high interest rates, inflation and a freeze on subsidies. The problems at Sunnova highlight the solar industry's dependence on government support and could be the start of greater difficulties for many solar companies. After all, the global solar energy market has developed strongly in the last ten years, but not too much should be expected from government subsidies, as the end of this aid could lead to a shrinking of the sector, as Eike Klima Energie reports.

The dispute over funding and subsidies in the German solar industry shows that the future remains uncertain. It is becoming clear that without timely political support, the entire industry could slide into a deep crisis. The disputes between established manufacturers and start-ups continue to heat up, while political support wavers. And while profitable solar glass was produced in Tschernitz, the question remains whether the sun can rise again for the German solar industry or whether it will soon become completely dark.