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Willingmann: European manufacturers must score points when it comes to renewables!
Energy Minister Willingmann calls for European manufacturers to be given preference when it comes to renewable energies in order to avoid competitive disadvantages.
Willingmann: European manufacturers must score points when it comes to renewables!
On July 14, 2025, the course will be set for the future of renewable energies in Germany. The Saxon Energy Minister Armin Willingmann (SPD) has made groundbreaking calls for politicians to strengthen the European manufacturing scene. “We have to introduce preferential treatment for European manufacturers in tenders for renewable energies and electricity storage,” said Willingmann. With his statements he warns of the impending decline of European photovoltaic manufacturers, especially in Saxony-Anhalt. For him, the need to protect European technologies from unfair competitors is central to maintaining innovative strength in the industry.
Such an incentive system could not only help the domestic industry, but also advance the energy transition. Energy storage plays a crucial role in balancing fluctuations in renewable energies. And that is particularly important because in 2022 almost 60% of electricity production in Germany will already come from renewable sources. At the end of 2024, out of a total of 3.8 million photovoltaic systems in Germany, around 1.8 million home storage systems were in operation - an impressive number that corresponds to almost 50%. World reports on this rapid development.
The electricity storage market
But what does the market for electricity storage look like? In 2017, there were around 50 solar storage manufacturers in Germany, with dominant providers such as sonnen, LG Chem and E3/DC collectively covering over 50% of the market. The demand for energy storage for private households has increased steadily in recent years and entered a new wave in 2020. sonnen and BYD have not only remained the established players on the market in recent years, but have also further expanded their market shares. Energy experts highlights that more than three quarters of the electricity storage systems installed in 2021 and 2022 will come from these four providers.
The forecasts for the future are promising. Simon Schamert, co-founder of Tesvolt, emphasizes the importance of having our own battery production in Europe, as the need for batteries and power storage continues to increase. A circumstance that is further fueled by the multifaceted nature of the projects and the ongoing expansion in the field of renewable energies.
Politics reacts
Another signal from politicians is the discussion about a possible “resilience bonus” for the German solar industry, which was initiated in April 2022 as part of the solar pact, but was rejected by the FDP. Saxony-Anhalt's economics minister also sees the hope of funding for electricity storage as part of the ongoing reform of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) as an opportunity for the industry.
Ultimately, we observe that the expansion of renewable energies continues to be a central pillar of the energy transition. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy continuously documents the progress and challenges in this area. BMWK emphasizes that the development of renewable energies is crucial for the future.
It remains to be seen how these political measures and market strategies will affect the competitiveness of European manufacturers. One thing is certain: something is happening, and the coming months will show whether and how the required adjustments in the energy sector will be implemented.