China

Clean energy supply chain

The clean energy metals caught in the crosshairs of US-China trade war

Gallium and germanium are key to some clean energy tech. China blocked exports of the metals to the U.S. in December, leaving the country searching for a new source.

By Maddie Stone . 11 February 2025
Policy & regulation

Will Trump’s plan to kill the EV tax credit help China?

The $7,500 tax credit requires EVs to source battery materials outside China. Cutting it could undermine investment in the U.S. battery supply chain.

By Jeff St. John . 25 November 2024
Clean energy supply chain

The US EV industry now faces a choice: Tax credits or Chinese batteries

Long-awaited rules from the Biden admin could make all EVs ineligible for the $7,500 customer tax credit — unless the industry can source key supplies beyond China.

By Jeff St. John . 6 December 2023
Solar

Chart: China’s solar export dominance grows with surging European orders

The country produces 80 percent of the world’s solar panels, and Europe is now buying over half of the panels it exports.

By Eric Wesoff, Maria Virginia Olano . 29 September 2023
Solar

China owns the solar supply chain, jeopardizing the energy transition

A new International Energy Agency report traces how China came to dominate the global solar supply chain — and how that puts the rest of the world at risk.

By Shel Evergreen . 25 July 2022
Wind

Chart: China’s offshore wind frenzy drove recent record global growth

Eighty percent of the world's new offshore wind capacity was installed in China last year, and the country is expected to dominate the sector for years to come.

By Maria Gallucci, Maria Virginia Olano . 8 July 2022
Clean energy

Chart: China dominates production of minerals needed for clean energy

Extraction and processing of critical minerals and metals are concentrated in a few countries, most notably China — and that’s a challenge for the energy transition.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 24 June 2022
Solar

Is US solar ready to prove its panels aren’t made with Uyghur forced labor?

A new federal law meant to combat mistreatment of Uyghurs in China means that importers of solar panels must demonstrate a clean supply chain.

By Emma Foehringer Merchant . 21 June 2022
Batteries

Chart: China is trouncing the US on battery recycling

In Asia and Europe, policy is driving the growth of lithium-ion battery recycling. The U.S. still lacks rules that would spur industry momentum.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 17 June 2022
Energy storage

Chart: Outpacing even China, the US takes the lead in grid battery investment

Global storage investment grew from $460 million to $4.7 billion in just seven years.

By Julian Spector, Maria Virginia Olano . 4 March 2022