EU Awards €3.4 Billion To Net-Zero Projects, Including 5 GW Solar Factory in France

The European Commission announced on October 19 that it had selected 77 net-zero technology projects across 23 European Economic Area countries for a total of €3.4 billion in support from the EU Innovation Fund. The funding comes from revenues generated by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and aims to strengthen Europe’s clean technology manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports. Among the selected projects is HoloSolis’ SOLAR4EU initiative, which plans to build a 5 GW integrated N-type TOPCon solar cell and module factory in Hambach, France. The highly automated facility is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs, with production targeted to begin in 2027 and capacity gradually ramping up by 2030. Notably, HoloSolis has secured a TOPCon patent license from China’s Trina Solar, highlighting the continued role of Chinese technology in Europe’s efforts to rebuild domestic solar manufacturing. Of the selected projects, 12 focus on clean technology manufacturing, covering solar modules, heat pumps, electrolyzers and electric vehicle batteries. Together, they applied for €895 million in funding. The investment supports the EU’s goal of meeting 40% of its annual net-zero technology deployment needs through domestic manufacturing by 2030. It also signals a stronger focus on rebuilding local production capacity, creating potential opportunities for technology licensing, equipment and manufacturing services alongside finished solar products.