China makes nearly all the world’s solar panels and wind turbines—enough to decarbonize the planet. The problem? It’s making more than the world can actually use. (Bruegel)
China can already cover global demand through 2050, yet factories keep churning. Prices are crashing, profits have evaporated, and manufacturers are slashing investment.
Beijing added 900 GW of renewables in just four years, but much of it sits idle. Weak transmission lines, storage shortages, and curtailment rates north of 30% in some provinces mean coal still carries the load.
Bottom line: Doubling grid investment and scaling storage could soak up the glut, keep renewables working, and turn infrastructure exports into China’s next big business.