Why should China invest in'spare' solar power?

With the vast majority (80-85%) of solar manufacturing plants located in China, supporting deployment of ‘spare’ solar capacity in the developing world presents a significant opportunity for China to deliver national gains, in addition to helping deliver global goals on development and climate change.

How has China dominated the solar industry?

As discussed in the previous sections, China was able to dominate the solar industry market. Incentives and government subsidies dating from 2009 onwards helped secure the lead in the world for solar power production since 2017 (Liu et al., 2022; Chowdhury et al., 2020).

Will China's solar industry expand by 2026?

Wood Mackenzie forecasts that China’s solar industry will expand capacity to nearly 1,700 GW by 2026. State support for the industry is contributing to the supply glut. For decades leaders of municipal and provincial governments in China have sought to build local solar industries that hire from their populations and contribute taxes.

How did China control the global solar market?

The increased installed capacity, the heavy manufacturing, and the availability of materials on its domestic land allowed China to control the global solar market by imposing quotas and restrictions on importing countries. We have shown that China alone installed more than 50 % of the total Asian solar capacity in the span of 25 years.

Does China have a monopoly on solar cells?

China achieved a near-monopoly in the global exports of solar cells last year, accounting for 83.8% of the total, according to data compiled by Natixis, a French corporate and investment bank. Manufacturing solar cells at a factory in Hefei, Anhui province, in October 2023.

Why is China a leader in solar PV production?

In addition, China is responsible for the processing of rare earth elements that are mined abroad. China worked hard to maintain its position as a leader in the production of assembled PVs and their parts. The country has also majorly invested in installed capacities. In the span of 25 years, China was able to install 393 GW of solar PV alone.