Borussia Dortmund (BVB) recently announced plans to equip the roof of its stadium, Signal Iduna Park, with the world's largest photovoltaic system. The club is collaborating with RWE and Chinese manufacturer JA Solar, which will supply 11,000 full-black modules.

The announcement has drawn criticism from Carsten Rohr, co-chairman of the ESMC and a Dortmund native. In an open letter, Rohr urges Borussia Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer to sever ties with JA Solar.

“Over the past 15 years, China has destroyed a significant portion of German and European solar production through unfair practices – including massive state subsidies and the exploitation of labor and the environment,” the letter states. “This is particularly evident in the company you have now chosen: JA Solar. This company was banned from the US market by the US authorities due to its links to forced labor in the Xinjiang region.”

Rohr said that by partnering with JA Solar, Borussia Dortmund risks aligning with a company allegedly involved in practices that contradict the club's values of fairness, integrity, and respect for human dignity – “values that characterize Borussia Dortmund … BVB would have done well to choose a European partner and cooperate with the European solar industry.”

A spokesperson from JA Solar told pv magazine that SolarPower Europe's Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) has previously investigated its supply chain and has found that the Chinese manufacturer has not violated the SSI Principles. “And our unit Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd has been adapting its sourcing practices as part of the broader JA Solar group’s commitment towards compliance with the SSI’s traceability and certification requirements,” she went on to say.

“It is also noted that the DHS announcement does not state or imply that the US Government has established that the JA Solar group owns or operates any entities or facilities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), nor that the company uses any forced labor at any of its sites globally,” she added. “At JA Solar, we are strongly committed to ensuring that our operations and supply chain are free from any form of forced labor. We have established a comprehensive framework of policies and due diligence procedures designed to effectively identify and mitigate potential risks associated with forced labor.”

In 2024, Borussia Dortmund faced criticism for another partner choice, with many fans strongly opposing the club's sponsorship agreement with defense company Rheinmetall.