Saxony-Anhalt on the abyss: Meyer Burger falls bankrupt!

Saxony-Anhalt on the abyss: Meyer Burger falls bankrupt!

In a worrying turn, the Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger has applied for bankruptcy proceedings for its German subsidiaries. This could bring about financial consequences, especially for the state of Saxony-Anhalt. To be more precise, the state's eventual liabilities amount to a proud 16.5 million euros, such as radiobrocken.de. Banks could possibly claim this sum if the Situation should continue.

The company received a loan of 115 million euros in 2021 for building a solar cell factory in Bitterfeld-Wolfen and a solar module plant in Freiberg. The East Saxon Sparkasse in Dresden was responsible for this financing measure. To secure the investment loan, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and the federal government granted a guarantee of 80 percent. However, Meyer Burger has not been able to fully operate his repayments since March 31, 2025, as the machine market notes.

The uncertainty of the solar industry

The bankruptcy of Meyer Burger takes place in the context of a massive bankruptcy wave in the solar industry. Numerous companies are on the verge of the exposure because the investments in renewable energies decrease sharply. According to blackout-news.de, installation companies for photovoltaics and manufacturers of heat pumps fight with a falling demand. This stagnation is favored by economic uncertainty and high energy prices, which either strokes or shifts many projects.

In 2024, the solar industry had already had an alarming number of bankruptcies, including known names such as special soles and Envoltec. The drop in the price of photovoltaic components also adds to the company, while countless customers remain on unfinished contracts and hope for possible repayments. The industry is therefore in a crisis in which the future of renewable energies remains questionable as long as the market and demand cannot stabilize.

The next steps for Saxony-Anhalt

Back to Saxony-Anhalt: Despite the difficult situation and the possibly required use of the guarantees, the government must now decide specifically how to deal with this situation. The collateral that credit institutions have received in the form of inventory and machines could offer additional scope for action, but the value of which depends on the course of the bankruptcy procedure. It remains to be seen whether and how Saxony-Anhalt will be able to do the financial burdens and at the same time support the industry branch of renewable energies.

The coming months will show whether Meyer Burger will find a solution or whether the company will contribute to further insolving wave. In any case, developments in the solar industry are a hot topic that affects the entire region.