AFASE announces it is joining SETI Alliance

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy (AFASE) announced its integration into the Alliance of the Sustainable Energy Trade Initiative, SETI Alliance, effective immediately. AFASE will end its stand-alone existence as a legal entity (Verein) and its board and supporters will be integrated into the SETI Alliance.

"AFASE and the SETI Alliance both share a vision of open markets to support growth in green technology. The move will provide our supporters with a wider platform to communicate our vision," said Thorsten Preugschas, CEO of Soventix GmbH & Chairman of AFASE e.V.

With the end of the trade investigations in sight, AFASE has begun to redirect its activities. It wants to build on the momentum created by the solar panel case and extend its mission to support free trade actions in favour of sustainable energy development.

Peter C. Brun, SETI Alliance MD, said: "We are delighted that AFASE will be joining the SETI Alliance, allowing us to grow our coalition for free and open green trade. Improved markets are crucial for facilitating a more cost effective scaling up and deployment of renewable energy, supporting a shift away from fossil fuels and enhancing climate change mitigation.

"Members of the AFASE campaign represent many different actors in the solar industry value chain - from installation companies to manufactures, investors to end-users - and we are very pleased that they support our broader outreach for market openings and new international green trade rules."

AFASE will continue to inform its supporters from within the SETI Alliance about developments related to the EU's imposition of definitive duties on solar products from China. The AFASE board member, Peter Desmet (CEO of Solarclarity B.V.), will sit on the SETI Alliance steering committee, and many AFASE Supporters are choosing independently to join the SETI Alliance supporting free trade policy development globally.