S203: ”Don’t Call it a Comeback” with Gunter Erfurt

In a special extended episode of The Solar Journey, Torsten Brammer speaks with influential industry voice, Gunter Erfurt, former CEO of Meyer Burger Technology AG, in his first interview since parting ways with the European manufacturing giant.

From his beginnings as a student of physics to one of the most well-known faces in Europe's solar manufacturing segment, Gunter's solar journey has taken him to unexpected places. He opens up about Meyer Burger’s bold pivot to solar cell and module production, how policy delay and eventual inaction represents a missed opportunity for Europe, and his vision for the future of solar manufacturing (spoiler: he's still hopeful).

Despite his persistent optimism, he doesn’t shy away from discussing the tough lessons learned, how younger German solar companies opposed pro-manufacturing policies, and why China’s solar dominance represents a risk to global energy security.

Informed and insightful, Gunter does not take a backwards step in defending the strategic decision to transition Meyer Burger's business toward making modules. "I decided let's go for it, and I have never regretted it."

PLUS: On this week's Espresso, Torsten speaks with Ivona Kafedjiska, a PV research strategy and policy consultant with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, on the sidelines of the EU PVSEC event. She shares some of her key takeaways from the leading European academic conference for clean technology and gives her view on why hopes for a revival of solar manufacturing on the continent may not be lost.