Signal China installed more solar panels in 2024 than Europe and the US combined

Summary

The report states that in 2024 China installed more solar panels than Europe and the United States put together. The figure is presented in the energy-transition context as an illustration of the momentum behind the Chinese shift toward a high-tech economy. According to the report, China is developing its own chips and AI to become independent of foreign technology, which makes other countries more reliant on Chinese technology. With its home market lagging somewhat since the pandemic, China has turned much of its output toward the world market. The report considers that this sometimes creates strong competition for Dutch producers and that the Chinese technological rise may lead to more frequent trade conflicts.