According to foreign media reports, the European Commission has passed a legislative proposal to set EU local content requirements for products supported by public funds, including photovoltaic products and battery energy storage systems.
The draft regulation, known as the "Industrial Acceleration Act", proposes that photovoltaic projects awarded through public procurement, net-zero technology auctions and public support schemes within three years from the effective date of the Act. Solar inverters and solar cells manufactured in the EU, or their equivalents , must be used.
The bill also stipulates that battery energy storage systems (BESS) must be produced in the EU; From one year after the entry into force of the Act, energy storage systems with a capacity of more than 1 MWh must be equipped with battery management systems manufactured in the European Union. Three years after the entry into force of the Act , battery energy storage systems must also be equipped with additional battery cells produced in the EU and at least one other core dedicated equipment. Dries Acke, deputy chief executive of the
European Solar Energy Association, called the bill a "watershed in European industrial policy".
"By focusing on solar inverters and cells made in the European Union, the European Commission, while promoting the return of the most strategic key components of photovoltaic systems to European production, has to some extent avoided the premature implementation of overly stringent requirements." Thus, the balance between the two is basically achieved. This means that while supporting local manufacturers in Europe, it will not have a negative impact on affordable solar deployment . "But there is an important premise here: 'Made in the EU' must really mean production in Europe – that is, within the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA)," Acke said.
Acke added that the requirements for battery energy storage systems (BESS) are more stringent than those in the solar sector , and the implementation time is too early. At a time when Europe is accelerating the deployment of energy storage, it may be counterproductive. "Battery energy storage is the most direct way to increase Europe's domestic renewable power capacity and reduce its dependence on high-priced imported fossil natural gas.". Accelerating the deployment of battery energy storage is the key support to achieve the EU's energy security and competitiveness goals.
On the other hand, the European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) issued a statement saying it was deeply disappointed by the weakening of local content requirements in the solar sector. The commission said it would not be able to move the entire solar supply chain back to Europe by limiting the standard to solar inverters and batteries; At the same time, he expressed concern about the three-year delay in the implementation of the relevant provisions, which meant that the relevant provisions might not come into force until 2030.
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