Innovation key to future of European PV manufacturing, says NexWafe CEO

November 23, 2023
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
EU PV manufacturers must innovate as well as scale up, said NexWafe CEO Davor Sutija. Image: NexWafe

Europe’s PV manufacturing industry must take full advantage of available policy and funding levers to reassert itself as a leading force again, according to the CEO of German wafer producer NexWafe.

In a guest article published today on PV Tech, Davor Sutija, CEO of Freiburg-based NexWafe, said European PV manufacturing stood at “crossroads”, where the reshoring of the industry was “not just an economic imperative but a strategic necessity”.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Sutija said the impacts of aggressive pricing strategies from competitors particularly in China underlined the need for Europe to adopt a “proactive and robust strategy in solar manufacturing”.

He said manufacturers must act “swiftly” to leverage the funding and policy opportunities made available under Europe’s Green Deal framework, such as the Net-Zero Industry Act and the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.

“These are not just mechanisms for survival but catalysts for transformation,” Sutija wrote. “The focus must be on creating conditions that not only sustain existing manufacturers but also encourage innovation and the development of advanced solar technologies.”

Such an emphasis on innovation would help create an industry that is both sustainable and equipped to play a leading role in the future, Sutija concluded: “The key to successful integration of technology and regulation lies in understanding that funding and policy must nurture not just a scale up of existing capabilities but emerging technological innovations. This approach will ensure that Europe’s solar manufacturing sector is not only competitive in the present but is also equipped to lead in the future.”

To read the full post, visit our Guest Blog section.

Read Next

October 23, 2025
US solar manufacturer T1 Energy sold approximately 725MW of solar modules in Q3 2025, as it continues to expand US manufacturing capabilities.
Sponsored
October 22, 2025
LONGi vice president Dennis She discusses the value logic behind the company's strategic focus on back contact technology.
October 22, 2025
US thin-film manufacturer First has revealed another transfer of its 45X manufacturing tax credits in a deal worth around US$775 million.
October 20, 2025
Details of tariffs on US imports of polysilicon products may be announced as early as the end of this month, according to a note from investment bank Roth Capital.
October 16, 2025
US utility-scale solar additions grew by 56% in 2024, reaching 30GW from 2023’s 19GW and representing over 54% of all new electricity generation capacity added in the country last year.
October 15, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Geronimo has begun construction on it’s150MW solar project in Illinois and commissioned the 125MW PV project in Michigan.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany