Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

usonian

(26,311 posts)
19. The War in Iran Is Causing China to Sell So Many Solar Panels That Your Jaw Will Drop
Tue May 5, 2026, 09:53 AM
22 hrs ago

(Repost)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221208539

https://futurism.com/science-energy/iran-war-solar-china

The ongoing war on Iran may have drastically reduced the amount of oil passing from West Asia to the rest of the world, but there is a bright side, literally: surging solar panel sales.

According to Yale Environment 360, China has reached a record high for solar panel exports as suppliers scramble for oil alternatives. In March, one month into the US-Iran war that began on February 28, the People’s Republic doubled the number of solar panels it was exporting, distributing 68 gigawatts of photovoltaic cells and silicon wafers.

That’s an astonishing spike across one month — for context, the US has only an estimated 70 gigawatts of new solar generating capacity scheduled to come online across all of 2026 and 2027. According to data from the think-tank Ember Energy, China exported more solar capacity in March alone than the entire nation of Spain installed in the previous decade.

Per Ember, the banner month traces back to increased demand in Asia and Africa in particular. Across all of Africa, Chinese solar imports grew by 176 percent from February to March, while Chinese exports to the rest of Asia reached 39 gigawatts worth of capacity. In all, 55 countries set all-time records for Chinese solar purchases.


Nobel Environmental Prize for choking off the world's oil supply and skyrocketing solar adoption?

Recommendations

4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Ahh, yes... LakeVermilion Yesterday #1
My neighbors just bought an EV, spurred by the spike in gas prices. SunSeeker Yesterday #2
When we stop using fossil fuels, all this goes away. All the oil powers are the ones doing ALL of this. Scrivener7 Yesterday #3
Since the sun shines and the wind blows nearly everywhere paleotn 23 hrs ago #12
I have had solar and EVs Miguelito Loveless 19 hrs ago #29
I love apartment living, but this is one area of drawback. We don't have enough roof space to power Scrivener7 11 hrs ago #48
And I bet you have a solar clothes dryer too airplaneman 5 hrs ago #49
Chris Hayes had a segment about this last week Deminpenn Yesterday #4
Are oil executives still happy with the Gropenfuhrer? KS Toronado Yesterday #5
Just wait until you see Exxon's profits for this quarter and you will know.... Ol Janx Spirit 23 hrs ago #8
EV trucks? Conjuay 21 hrs ago #23
Yes, they do exist--which is great--but only in very limited capacity at the moment, and scaling... Ol Janx Spirit 19 hrs ago #28
Their joy will be short term Miguelito Loveless 19 hrs ago #30
All those things are true, but the oil industry is still looking at a long time horizon... Ol Janx Spirit 18 hrs ago #37
Oh, the planet is hosed Miguelito Loveless 16 hrs ago #42
Which is one of the more urgent reasons to rapidly develop EV technology: anything... Ol Janx Spirit 12 hrs ago #47
The gasoline that was at $2.79 now selling north of $4.50 with NO CAPITAL COSTS to them.... ALL PROFIT dave99 14 hrs ago #45
US oil and Russia are the big beneficiaries. tinrobot 21 hrs ago #24
Reddit is full of threads about EVs right now Johnny2X2X Yesterday #6
Garage kcoates 23 hrs ago #7
You don't...but JPK 23 hrs ago #11
Got it! kcoates 23 hrs ago #15
Depends on the way the houses/streets are configured tinrobot 20 hrs ago #25
So you can charge at home. Johnny2X2X 23 hrs ago #16
I would also point out Miguelito Loveless 18 hrs ago #32
Yeah, I will buy lightly used for sure Johnny2X2X 17 hrs ago #38
By that time Miguelito Loveless 16 hrs ago #41
Yeah Johnny2X2X 15 hrs ago #44
Technically, you just need somewhere to plug in Miguelito Loveless 19 hrs ago #31
I have a 2019 Chevy Volt JPK 23 hrs ago #9
I buy gas for my Volt about once a year. Thunderbeast 20 hrs ago #27
My wife and I had a Volt Miguelito Loveless 18 hrs ago #33
Hopefully, maybe EVs will come down in price. mwmisses4289 23 hrs ago #10
New, they can be pricy JPK 23 hrs ago #13
The have been coming down for a while, and used EVs can be a real bargain. tinrobot 20 hrs ago #26
Buy used Miguelito Loveless 18 hrs ago #34
Doing the right thing wasn't enough to drive transition. hay rick 23 hrs ago #14
Thanks for the OP. We really don't hear much about how TSFs war on renewables and EVs is making wiggs 22 hrs ago #17
Renewables are democratic (small-d). And the future, but petro corps and certain countries will wiggs 22 hrs ago #18
The War in Iran Is Causing China to Sell So Many Solar Panels That Your Jaw Will Drop usonian 22 hrs ago #19
If The US Has All These Pipelines... Mr.Bee 22 hrs ago #20
Because we have the wrong kind of refineries Miguelito Loveless 18 hrs ago #35
Norway has the population of Dallas. Next year will be Melon 21 hrs ago #21
"internal consumption engines"? Interesting typo. Maybe Autocorrupt? CaptainTruth 21 hrs ago #22
I dipped my toe in with a hybrid. boston bean 18 hrs ago #36
How long ago Miguelito Loveless 16 hrs ago #43
I just bought one. boston bean 12 hrs ago #46
I wish the blockade on fertilizers would result in a move to organic agriculture MadameButterfly 17 hrs ago #39
The Law of Unintended Consequences is kicking in... Wounded Bear 17 hrs ago #40
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Trump Is Losing a Second ...»Reply #19