China drives global clean energy surge as solar and battery exports soar

12 articles · Updated · Barron's · Apr 30

China’s solar equipment exports doubled and battery exports rose 44% in March, with new energy vehicle registrations more than doubling in Japan, Korea, and New Zealand, and rising over 50% in India, Australia, and Europe.
The Iran war’s energy price spikes are accelerating global demand for renewables, benefiting Chinese manufacturers and international firms like Iberdrola, Enel, and Brookfield Renewable, while U.S. rooftop solar installations are set to fall.
Some countries, such as Canada, may expand fossil fuel production, but others, including Colombia and Europe, are investing in clean energy to boost energy independence and reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.

As China dominates clean energy, is the world trading dependency on petrostates for dependency on Beijing?

Can renewable energy overcome its 'value cannibalization' problem to remain profitable and attract future investment?

With renewables now out-producing natural gas, can the U.S. solve its grid and supply chain hurdles?

Will the global surge in EV adoption be sustained without consistent government incentives?

How can developing nations afford a green transition while facing war-induced inflation and debt?

In an era of 'electrostates,' what new forms of geopolitical conflict and alliances will emerge?