The US tariffs still cannot hinder the market's demand for clean technology in China. A latest report shows that the scale of clean energy technologies and equipment exported from China this year has reached record levels. Once put into use, it is estimated that approximately 450 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced each year, which is equivalent to Brazil's annual emissions.
The Clean Air and Energy Research Center (CREA), based in Finland, reported in a report on October 29 that the energy crisis caused by the conflict in Iran has led to a surge in demand for renewable energy. China's export of clean technologies is making a significant contribution to global emission reductions.
China is the world's largest supplier of renewable energy equipment, offering products such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and batteries. Tracking data shows that in the first nine months of this year, China's exports of electric vehicles increased by 61%, while exports of wind turbines, batteries, and solar equipment increased by 45%, 39%, and 22%, respectively.
Even if Trump's government increases tariffs, China still increased exports of US clean technology by 13% simultaneously. Researcher Laurie Melville stated: "Demand is much stronger than I expected."
The report estimates that if this export trend continues until the end of the year, the clean technology products exported by China throughout their entire lifespan are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 8.4 billion tons.
Southeast Asia is one of the major export destinations. According to data from energy think tank Ember, as of September this year, China's exports of clean energy to this region increased by nearly 160% compared to the same period in previous years.
The shipping in the Hormuz Strait has been severely disrupted due to the war, and Asian countries that rely heavily on energy imports are hit the hardest. With rising electricity and fuel prices, consumers in Southeast Asia are turning to alternative solutions such as rooftop photovoltaics.
According to experts from zero-carbon analysis and research institutions, even after the conflict ends, the demand for this clean energy source may continue. Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam have introduced incentives for photovoltaic installation and the purchase of electric vehicles. In the first quarter of this year, the Philippines became the second-largest destination for Chinese solar products. Indonesia has committed to installing 100 gigawatts of solar power facilities by 2029.
