The German subsidiary of building materials distributor Saint Gobain has announced it is withdrawing from the PV sector, pointing the finger of blame at Germany's unstable solar policy.

In a statement released at the end of last week the firm said policy uncertainty was having a knock-on effect on the German market, creating problems for potential buyers of PV systems “as well as in the entire value chain, from production to distribution to installation of such systems”.

The company will now focus on its core business, namely selling tiles, roofing and others materials in the construction sector.

The company said it would find new roles for staff affected by the change in other parts of the business and would sell-off the remaining stock.

A number of changes to Germany’s solar energy policies, including a grid charge for self-consumption and an annual capacity cap, have attracted industry criticism.