On June 12, a senior executive of a Chinese PV enterprise was taken into custody by authorities in Munich, Germany while participating in Intersolar Europe, the world’s largest solar technology exhibition.
PU Yonghua who was taken by the local police is associated with several companies, including Jiangsu Runda, Jiangsu Green Power New Energy, Wuxi Park Wood Manufacturing, and Jiangsu VDS Power.
Pu is back in his hotel after assisting in an investigation, said China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) in a statement.
The reasons behind the events remain unclear, with speculation ranging from anti-dumping to commercial fraud or visa issues. Conflicting reports have emerged, including the revelation that more than one executive was taken into custody.
The CPIA reminded enterprises to comply with local laws and regulations.
China possesses some of the world’s most advanced PV technology and the biggest PV industry while Europe is prioritizing clean energy.
Due to a lack of domestic capacity, Europe heavily relies on China. In 2022, Chinese photovoltaic companies exported 87 GW to Europe, double the 2021 amount.
