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Willingmann: Save local manufacturers for green technologies!
On July 14, 2025, Energy Minister Willingmann visited Tesvolt in Wittenberg to promote European technologies and energy storage.
Willingmann: Save local manufacturers for green technologies!
On July 14, 2025, the Energy Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann, sent a strong signal. During his visit to the battery storage manufacturer Tesvolt in Wittenberg, he emphasized the urgency of providing targeted support to European manufacturers in the field of renewable energies. This is done in recognition of the particular challenges that the market presents. From wind power to photovoltaics, the availability of renewable energy can vary greatly, which is why reliable energy storage is of utmost importance.
“We have to protect our own manufacturers from unfair competitive conditions from abroad,” said Willingmann. He particularly warns of the decline of European photovoltaic manufacturers and calls for European providers to be given preference in tenders for electricity storage. This is not only a question of market viability, but also of Europe's technological independence. The EU has taken a significant step in this direction with the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA). The aim is to cover at least 40% of the demand for net zero technologies within the EU by 2030.
Promotion of European technologies
“We need an incentive system ‘made in Europe’ for tenders and funding programs,” demands Willingmann. Electrical energy storage is essential not only for companies but also for households, especially given the regulatory framework created by the new EU regulation. According to bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de, the entry into force of the NZIA will reduce bureaucratic effort and promote investment in the necessary technologies.
The Tesvolt Gigafactory, which is scheduled to open in spring 2026, will have a manufacturing capacity of four gigawatt hours and estimates an investment requirement of 30 million euros. This shows that the industry has reached a point where there is a need to produce locally to meet the increasing demand for energy storage solutions.
The current market situation
In 2022, the share of renewable energy in electricity production in Germany was almost 60%, and the demand for electricity storage is constantly growing. Around 1.8 million home storage systems had already been installed at the end of 2024. Almost half of the 3.8 million photovoltaic systems in German households use battery storage. According to zeit.de the need for batteries is expected to continue to increase.
Willingmann also spoke of the hope for a reform of the Renewable Energy Act in order to introduce basic support for electricity storage. Saxony-Anhalt's economics minister has emphasized the need to make the German solar industry more resonant within the framework of the solar pact, even if a desired "resilience bonus" for the industry was rejected after the FDP's veto right.
Overall, it is clear that the European industry and in particular the manufacturers of energy storage are facing challenges, but also have good prospects for adapting to the coming requirements. It remains to be seen how political decisions will further advance developments in this key industry.