Malaysia and Taiwan to come under the wrath of Europe

The Chinese solar manufacturing industry has caused huge pains to the western manufacturers who have been more or less wiped out. Hundreds of European solar manufactures including biggies like Bosch, Siemens have exited the business unable to compete with the Chinese, who have made solar energy competitive with other fossil fuels.

USA and Europe have imposed different sanctions and duties on Chinese solar imports. While USA has imposed 2 rounds of duties on Chinese cells and panels, Europe had agreed to a volume and price quota deal with China. This deal is set to unravel as the Chinese solar players had easily circumvented the European deal by sourcing cells and panels from other Asian countries. Some had even indulged in dubious activities leading to investigation by European commission on complaints by European manufacturers. Some Chinese companies such as ReneSola have opted out of the volume deal already and face anti-dumping duties. More companies face the same option as Europe comes down heavily on Chinese imports. The Chinese on the other hand are already ahead planning to export to Europe from other countries.

Europe has now decided to also include Malaysia and Taiwan, since these are the other countries with major solar exporting capacities. The manufacturers in these countries will be investigated to see if they helped the Chinese module players to escape the European volume deal. Note USA has already dealt a heavy blow on Taiwan by imposing ADD, the European deal could bankrupt many of them as they are already in dire straits making large losses. While USA could not include Malaysia since First Solar manufacturers most of its panels there, Europe has no such compunction. It will probably include Malaysia and Taiwan.

All these moves will not help as the solar manufacturing industry has ceased to exist in high cost Europe. Only polysilicon manufacturing in Germany by Wacker is left. Others have shut down or exited the industry. Solarworld has a major presence in USA only, while REC has been bought out by a Chinese company. There are no other major European solar manufacturer left.