In recent years, the EU has taken a positive attitude towards new energy sources and is committed to promoting the use of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Green Deal, the EU has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, emphasizing the key role of renewable energy in achieving this goal. In addition, the EU promotes the development and application of solar, wind and other clean energy sources through various policies and financial support to achieve sustainable economic growth and energy independence.
Europe is one of the world's most important PV markets, with a huge installed capacity and a growing market demand. In recent years, with the continuous advancement of photovoltaic technology and the continuous decline in costs, the size of the European photovoltaic market has been expanding. According to S&P Global, PV demand in Europe is still trending positively, with the largest distribution in the world. Germany is one of the largest PV markets in Europe, and in terms of data, Germany also has the largest proportion, accounting for 22%. It has a complete industrial chain and advanced technical level. The Germany government has given greater support to the photovoltaic industry and has issued a series of policies to encourage the construction of photovoltaic power plants. In addition, the high acceptance of renewable energy by the German people also provides a good social environment for the development of the photovoltaic market. The demand for PV in Europe is mainly driven by residential, commercial and industrial sectors. As Europe's energy transition accelerates, the demand for PV products in these sectors will continue to grow. The PV market in the Netherlands has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to the government's renewable energy support scheme, SDE+. The plan provides a strong financial guarantee for the construction of photovoltaic power plants and promotes the rapid growth of the photovoltaic market in the Netherlands. In addition, the rapid construction of solar parks in the Netherlands has also provided strong support for the development of the photovoltaic market. These two countries are also one of the important PV markets in Europe. They have abundant solar energy resources and good light conditions, which provide superior natural conditions for the construction of photovoltaic power plants.
Figure: The trend of PV demand in Europe is improving, and distributed accounts for the largest proportion in the world
At the same time, the government has also introduced a series of support policies to promote the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry. According to the data, Netherlands ranks second among China's exports to the EU15, and in 2022, Netherlands has generated more than 31TW of renewable energy. In addition, Netherlands has 149,000 EV charging piles, which is comparable to the number in United States and tied for the first place in Europe.
At present, it is an important trend for Chinese photovoltaic enterprises to go overseas in the context of the current global energy transition and the rapid development of China's photovoltaic industry. However, in recent years, trade barriers in Europe, the United States, India and other countries have been high, and local manufacturing policies have been increased layer by layer, and Chinese photovoltaic enterprises are facing greater export pressure. Therefore, enterprises are seeking new ways to go overseas to expand market space and diversify market risks. For example, the Middle East is one of the important destinations for Chinese PV companies to go overseas due to its abundant solar energy resources and vast available land. Chinese PV companies have built a number of production bases in the Middle East, covering the entire PV industry chain, including polysilicon, wafers, cells, modules and brackets. In addition, the Middle East is also a hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, with significant geographical advantages, which will help Chinese PV companies radiate the surrounding markets.
In the future, with the acceleration of the global energy transition and the sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry, Chinese photovoltaic enterprises will usher in more opportunities and challenges when going overseas. Enterprises need to continue to strengthen technological innovation and R&D investment to improve product quality and technical level; At the same time, it actively responds to international trade barriers and frictions, and expands diversified overseas routes and market space; In addition, it is also necessary to strengthen international cooperation and exchanges to jointly promote the healthy development and sustainable development of the global photovoltaic industry.
