Europe’s solar industry says tariffs are a “lose-lose strategy”: Europe’s solar power industry is urging policymakers not to impose tariffs on imports amid concerns that disrupting supplies from China could hamper Europe’s efforts to install clean energy, Reuters reported on Monday. “Tariffs are not a good answer to the current challenges in the European solar industry,” said Gunter Erfurt, Board Director at industry group SolarPower Europe. “Instead of sanctioning the entire industry through tariffs, we must incentivize solar installations that originate from resilient European solar production. This way, the deployment of solar energy can continue undisturbed while European solar manufacturing can grow steadily,” Erfurt added. Such tariffs on solar would be a “lose-lose strategy” for the industry, SolarPower Europe said.

The policymakers’ rationale: The worries by Europe’s solar industry come as European governments and Brussels seek tougher controls on imports in a bid to slash dependency on China for the green transition.

India auctioning critical minerals in pursuit of renewable targets: India plans to sell off 20 critical minerals blocks as it works to achieve its 450 GW 2030 renewable energy plan and cut down on import dependency, The National reports. India had discovered 5.9 mn tonnes of lithium reserves in the Jammu and Kashmir region earlier this year. The blocks include lithium, cobalt, chromium, copper, and nickel, and are located in many states. The auction will be open to domestic as well as international companies and is expected to generate interest from both electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and battery manufacturers.

Falling solar costs could alleviate Bangladesh's energy woes: Bangladesh's energy crisis, driven by heavy reliance on fossil fuels, could find relief due to declining solar power prices, BloombergNEF reported. By 2025, solar power alone is expected to be the most cost-effective energy source in the country, the report reads. By the end of the decade, the combination of solar and batteries is projected to outcompete new coal and gas power plants, providing an opportunity for Bangladesh to reduce its carbon footprint despite state plans for continued fossil fuel-based power generation.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Hystar building 4 GW plant in Norway: Electrolyser company Hystar will build a 4 GW plant in Norway next year and plans to expand into North America to benefit from investment incentives. Hystar, which is financially backed by Mitsubishi and Nippon Steel Trading, says its tech will use 10% less energy for electrolysis than current models. (Reuters)