China's monthly solar panel exports to the rest of the world, in megawatts
China's monthly exports of solar panels to the rest of the world, measured in megawatts (MW). Chinese panels are far cheaper than those made elsewhere, and China also produces three-quarters of the world's batteries.
China’s monthly exports of solar panels to other countries of the world, in megawatts (MW = 1,000 kilowatts (kW)).
Today China dominates not only the supply chain for critical energy minerals, and is not only rolling out solar power rapidly at home: it also exports huge volumes of solar panels to other countries, as the attached chart shows.
Chinese solar panels are far cheaper than those made in other producing countries, so low- and middle-income countries short of energy are ready to buy them in large volumes.
China also produces three-quarters of the world’s batteries. Its largest electric-vehicle maker, BYD, turns out high-quality electric cars for around $10,000 and is rapidly capturing markets around the world.
The Chinese corporation CATL is the world’s leading manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles, other forms of electric transport and energy storage systems. The company supplies its batteries to the biggest carmakers, among them Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen and Toyota.
CATL is pushing battery technology forward fast. According to open sources, some CATL battery models can charge an electric vehicle for a range of up to 520 km in five minutes.