PV FMF attendees lament lack of standards

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The PV Group’s recent PV Fab Managers’ Forum in Dresden, Germany, was a successful event that saw attendance by over 200 leaders and technology experts in the PV industry. The overriding message was that the goal of grid parity would be greatly helped along by the implementation of standards – an ITRS of sorts for the PV industry.

“For the first time, Europe has a real chance to set standards in the Photovoltaic Industry,” commented Dr. Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth & Rau AG. “To strengthen Europe’s number one position in the solar industry, it is important that innovations continue to come from here. This is how we can ensure the continued competitiveness of the companies in this sector. “

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

The PV Group Fab Managers’ Forum saw the more than 200 attendees come together to discuss how PV cell and module manufacturers can better cooperate with their suppliers. Supply chain management and the implementation of standards across the PV supply chain were deemed crucial to the industry’s fast achievement of grid parity.

The PV Group has been working with Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) on campaigning for the introduction of standards in the solar industry.

“To ensure the solar industry’s survival, setting standards is crucial,” says Heinz Kundert, President of SEMI Europe. “But it is a difficult process, because it requires a major commitment from all involved, and because companies concerned often have different interests. We have long standing experience in moderating these processes, and have at our command the international network required to involve all parties world-wide. For this reason the PV Group is the ideal platform to enact standards in the photovoltaic sector. We aim to support companies in lowering costs so they can work economically in even the most difficult market environments until grid parity is achieved and new markets are opened.”

Read Next

Premium
July 24, 2026
PV Tech Premium spoke with Mike Carr, executive director of the SEMA Coalition, about the hollowing out of domestic demand for US solar manufacturing under the Trump administration, the way that US companies are piecing together supply chains and the reasons to still hope for the sector’s future.  
July 24, 2026
Chinese solar cell and module manufacturer Aiko has received a “PV Module Anti-Ignition Hazard” certification from German technical advisory firm TÜV Rheinland.
July 24, 2026
Panamint Capital has broken ground on the 1.2GWdc solar PV project at its Twin Oaks power station in Robertson County, Texas.
July 24, 2026
Taiwanese solar PV manufacturers Sino-American Silicon Products and United Renewable Energy Co. have formed a joint venture to establish a module assembly plant in the US.
Sponsored
July 24, 2026
As sub-zero temperatures force many residential battery systems offline or drain energy through auxiliary heating, Dr. Qingfeng Yuan explains how the CATL-ATL joint venture's thermal engineering is eliminating winter downtime across Northern and Alpine Europe
July 24, 2026
Ark Energy has secured a financial investment decision (FID) for its AU$1.3 billion Richmond Valley solar-plus-storage project in Australia.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
April 20, 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye