a. The European solar industry has been one of the fastest growing sectors in the early 21st century economy. Its dynamic and rapid expansion are due, in no small part, to free trade and anti-protectionist thought.
b. Open and free markets have led to a steady reduction of price-per-watt of solar energy and have helped Europe lead the way toward a low-carbon economy. According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), solar energy was Europe’s number one type of installed energy in 2011, and the figure of grid-connected PV installations more than doubled in comparison to 2010.
c. In Europe alone, the solar industry is now delivering nearly 30 Terawatts of electricity to millions of consumers, thereby reducing emissions of CO2 by millions of tons every year.
d. Such rapid expansion has created a high-value, technologically “green” job market. The EU solar industry is employing between 280,000 and 300,000 people and they work in mostly small or medium-sized enterprises.
e. It is not in the interest of Europe’s solar industry to begin to adopt protectionist measures. Chinese companies import European technology and raw materials in the construction of solar modules.
f. As well, the majority of the EU solar industry is employed in the sales, installation and maintenance of solar technology and will be severely affected by any rise in prices. It is the affordability of solar power that has allowed it to grow into a rival technology to traditional fossil fuel alternatives. Open markets must be maintained to guarantee the industry’s progress.