China hinders Western solar expansion

China plans to restrict the export of technologies for the production of solar systems. The People’s Republic is the technological leader in this field. The export stop would deal a severe blow to the West’s efforts to build up its own solar industry.

It is a minor announcement that could have a major impact: China wants to place an export ban on important technologies for the production of solar systems. A final decision on this is still pending. A public consultation was open until the end of January. But all China experts consulted are certain that the export restrictions will come. Once a consultation period is over, China rarely reverses major changes to regulations, says Rebecca Arcesati, an analyst at the German China think tank Merics.

Sign up now and continue reading immediately