The water is up to the neck of the solar industry. Solon and Q-cells have declared bankruptcy. St. Gallen, 08.08.2013. Bosch and Siemens announced its exit from the market with the crystalline photovoltaic. The Works Council which has subsidiary Bosch solar energy AG brass his whole and expressed frustration in an open letter.
The irony: Well four years ago, also before the Bundestag election, Merkel was to the laying of the foundation stone of the plant in Arnstadt, Thuringia jobs appeared, the future of the German solar industry praised and welcomed the creation of new. Today the Chancellor feels differently: criticized the consequences of the energy turnaround, which would be carried out on the shoulders of citizens and wants to participate after the Bundestag election more the costs of redeploying the necessary infrastructure including the solar industry. That also the feed-in tariffs for green electricity will be scaled back for years, is sufficiently known. And because at the same time Chinese low-price competitors flood the German solar market at dumping prices, This create significantly more supply than demand, feels the local industry with the backs to the wall. The result: at the end of the year Bosch out the solar business, wants are 3,000 jobs, mainly in Thuringia, at stake. Others could follow, so not already done. Punitive duties should reduce the debacle. But raised discussion of penalty tariffs on Chinese imports was not consistently and industry approval.
Also in politics, especially since it feared disadvantages for the other trade with China. Now, the EU has made a decision which is already sanctioned with China: the controversial penalty tariffs are off the table. In return, the EU Commission with China on minimum prices of 56 cents per watt and limiting quantities for imports has agreed. Punitive duties are payable, if these agreements are violated. In the coming days, the European authorities want to officially adopt this agreement and call details. The staff at the Bosch solar This is probably no longer help energy AG.