Solar Manufacturing Accelerator (SoMA) is an initiative, launched in May 2020 by SolarPower Europe, and coordinated with strategic partners ESMC, ETIP-PV, IPVF, and VDMA, aiming to accelerate the deployment of solar PV manufacturing projects in Europe to strengthen European leadership in renewable technologies and contribute to the reindustrialisation of the continent, by supporting a European green recovery.

During the first conference of the Solar Manufacturing Accelerator, held in July, ten European solar manufacturing projects were presented to European Ministers, EU policymakers, and stakeholders, featuring manufacturing and innovation of cells, modules and wafers.

The presented projects revealed the impressive potential of the European solar PV manufacturing industry, which proved that it is already developing state-of-the art technologies and creating thousands of jobs, fully in line with the goals of the European Green Deal, as stated by Walburga Hemetsberger, the CEO of SolarPower Europe.

Next steps are:

• B2B Matchmaking –Online matchmaking event leveraging SolarPowerEurope and the partners membership (October/November)
• Develop a directory of available projects in the Accelerator (Q3 2020)
• Solar Manufacturing Accelerator call joined with EIT Innoenergy (15 October)
• Establish an Industrial Roundtable -Secure interested off takers, Financiers, top 10 Accelerator projects (Q3 2020)
• 2nd Solar Manufacturing Accelerator HL Conference (Q1 2021)