Solar industry is in the wind. But on Monday 21 August, the company Norwegian Crystal went bankrupt. The reason is that the company lacks capital. And the cornerstone company from Glomfjord is not the only Norwegian manufacturer of solar cell components struggling with capital. The company Rec Solar in Kristiansand has struggled. In March this year, 50 people in the company were made redundant. – It becomes difficult to understand that they are serious when the oil industry receives enormous power support, says Rasmus Hansen in MDG. He believes Norway is now becoming even more dependent on China in the green shift – and points out that it makes us dependent on industry characterized by terrible conditions. Mayor: – Hard blow The bankruptcy of the solar company caused 70 people to lose their jobs. This is in stark contrast to the 500 jobs the municipality expected to get out of the industry just months before. – It is surreal to be talking to employees who have just lost their jobs, at the same time that investment in solar is only growing, says Sigurd Stormo, mayor of Meløy. Sigurd Stormo (Ap), mayor of Meløy municipality, says that support has already come through the European Investment Fund to the cornerstone company in Glomfjord. Photo: Malin Nygård Solberg / news This week he told the Minister for Climate and the Environment about the hard blow for the village, at a hydrogen conference in Bodø. – I couldn’t avoid mentioning it today. It was important for me to tell Barth Eide that we must invest in more energy sources, he says and adds: – The sun as an energy source is extremely important. That is why he is hopeful. But then the government must stand up, says the mayor. – We must have the authorities on board if we are to get the solar cell industry back on track in Norway. But this requires good support schemes, continues the mayor. – We see that in both the USA and Europe. After the war in Ukraine, Europe has had to figure out how to get new energy sources. Sun is important there. Industry must return from China. It opens up opportunities for us. MDG: – It is problematic to be so dependent on China The mayor receives support from Rasmus Hansson in MDG. He also believes that the government must go further to support Norwegian green energy companies. – In Norway, it is the oil industry that dominates the economy, labor market, politics and profit. Then the state must be much more aggressive in helping the green businesses that we all claim we want, he says and continues: – Now we sit and watch them die. He is calling for a much clearer and more binding support scheme for the industries that engage in green industry. – Green energy creates both the energy solutions we need, and a strategy where we focus on it also makes us less dependent on China, says Rasmus Hansson (MDG). Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news – Norwegian Crystals is a good example of this. They have world-leading technology and provide local jobs. It also shows that the green shift belongs in the district. – Use Glomfjord as an example of what the government means in practice with its green investment. China is the leader in solar cell production in the world. Hansson points out that this bankruptcy means that Norway will also become even more dependent on China. – It is extremely problematic that our green shift continues to be so dependent on China. The Chinese solar products are manufactured through slave-like conditions. Furthermore, Hansson believes that Norway has an obligation to contribute as much as possible to ensure that the Chinese do not oppress indigenous people such as the Uighurs. – One of the ways we can do that is to make ourselves independent of the products they produce in concentration camp factories. Thinks the government is doing enough But Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide says that the state has already given a lot of support to the solar cell industry. – There has been a lot of government kroner invested in solar cell production. – Are you doing enough to bring about the green shift? – In the highest grade. Almost everything we do now in both climate and business policy is aimed at reducing emissions. In addition, we want to develop and adopt the new solutions in Norway. – We are going to need a lot of solar cells and there is increasing interest in them not only being produced in China, says Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide. Photo: Tom Balgaard / news – Does this mean that the inhabitants of Glomfjord can shrug their shoulders and that jobs will return? – The state does not decide that, there must be a private owner here in addition to the support they have received, says Barth Eide. – The solar cell industry in Norway has had a tough time, it has also been like that before because there is strong international competition. – But you don’t go in with financial support for Glomfjord? – We probably have to have an industrial owner here, but it is a growing industry that operates in a market where many of the buyers want China not to have a monopoly. It is a starting point. He points out that it is the current owner who gives up, and therefore believes that the last word has not been said in Glomfjord. – I have the impression that there may be several other potential owners who want to look at this. Norwegian Crystals has developed very interesting expertise. Mayor Stormo in Meløy has at least not stopped hoping. – I have more than hope. I believe that we have not seen the last chapter of solar either in Norway or in Meløy, he says. – I think we just have to keep working. We will succeed.
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Critical to leaving solar cell production to China – believes the government must act – news Nordland
