"Around 35GW of PV manufacturing projects in Europe are at risk of being mothballed as elevated power prices damage the continent’s efforts to build a solar supply chain, research from Rystad Energy suggests.

The consultancy noted that the energy-intensive nature of both solar PV and battery cell manufacturing processes is leading some operators to temporarily close or abandon production facilities as the cost of doing business escalates. "

https://www.pv-tech.org/european-solar-pv-manufacturing-at-risk-from-soaring-pow...

"Maxeon Solar Technologies has shut down a PV module manufacturing plant in France, citing a challenging price environment.

The facility was impacted by rising costs and taxes on raw material imports, according to a Maxeon spokesperson.

“The production price of the Porcelette plant no longer allows us to be competitive on the European market,” the spokesperson said in a statement sent to PV Tech.

Located in northeastern France, the facility was inaugurated in 2012. According to press release from that year, the plant had a 44MWp production line capable of producing 150,000 solar panels annually."

https://www.pv-tech.org/maxeon-closes-french-solar-module-manufacturing-plant/

But that free energy (from wind and sun) should make them really cheap. Should it not?