A New Industrial Era for Clean Energy in Europe
Adopted in June 2024, the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) marks a major milestone in Europe’s industrial strategy.
Its goal is clear and ambitious: by 2030, at least 40% of Europe’s annual demand for net-zero technologies must be met by local manufacturing.
Behind this target lies a much broader transformation — one that spans the entire solar energy value chain, from raw materials and manufacturing to logistics, recycling, and skilled employment.
For the solar sector, it represents a unique opportunity to build a fully European, sustainable, and competitive industry.
Bringing Value Creation Back Home — Not Just Manufacturing
For years, Europe has relied heavily on imports from Asia for solar cells, wafers, and modules.
The NZIA is set to rebalance this dependency by promoting local production of key components, strengthening European supply chains, and ensuring access to critical raw materials.
But this shift is not just about “Made in Europe.”
It’s about relocalising value creation and industrial know-how, rebuilding Europe’s expertise, and ensuring full traceability and transparency throughout the production process.
For Belga Solar, Belgium’s only solar panel manufacturer, this transition comes naturally: local manufacturing, European components, and a clear contribution to Europe’s energy sovereignty.
A Greener, Shorter, and More Resilient Supply Chain
The NZIA encourages the creation of Net-Zero Industry Zones and simplifies permitting procedures for strategic projects.
This means faster processes, less administrative burden, and a significantly lower environmental footprint.
For installers, distributors, and end customers, the benefits are immediate:
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quicker delivery times,
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improved product availability,
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and reduced transport-related emissions.
By reinforcing local supply chains, the NZIA fosters closer collaboration between manufacturers and installers, creating a faster, greener, and more efficient service model.
Solar Panel Recycling: A Strategic Priority
As solar capacity expands, a new challenge emerges: what happens to panels at the end of their lifecycle?
The NZIA integrates circular economy principles at its core, encouraging manufacturers to design long-lasting and recyclable products.
At Belga Solar, we are already investing in solutions that enable the recovery and reuse of materials such as glass, aluminium, and silicon — extending product lifespans and reducing industrial waste.
Our vision is clear: every Belga Solar panel should be responsible from the first to the last kilowatt hour.
Europe Reclaims Its Industrial Leadership
Today, more than 90% of the world’s photovoltaic cells are produced in Asia. Through the NZIA, the European Union aims to reclaim control over strategic clean-energy technologies and strengthen its industrial resilience.
Key initiatives will support this ambition:
- Strategic Net-Zero Projects,
- Net-Zero Industry Academies to train a new generation of professionals,
- and a simplified regulatory framework to accelerate investment.
The goal is not merely to produce more, but to produce better — with lower emissions, greater transparency, and stronger European value creation.
A Real Opportunity for Belgium
For Belgium, the NZIA offers a chance to relaunch its industrial base around green innovation. It will create local jobs, reinforce energy independence, and boost technological competitiveness.
For Belga Solar, this European framework validates a long-standing commitment: To produce locally what Europe needs for a successful energy transition. With Belgian production and advanced manufacturing expertise, Belga Solar is directly contributing to the European Union’s NZIA objectives — building a sustainable, sovereign, and competitive solar industry.
Toward a 100% European Solar Future
The Net Zero Industry Act is more than a regulatory initiative — it’s a strategic roadmap for a cleaner, stronger, and more autonomous Europe. For Belga Solar, it is not just an opportunity but a mission: Produce locally. Produce sustainably. Produce responsibly.
The future of solar energy is European — and it begins here, in Belgium.
