In an interview with the Financial Times, a senior executive from one of China’s largest solar equipment groups has urged Western governments to “let the best technology win.”
This interview comes as Chinese firms and officials respond to increasing protectionism in the US and Europe.
Zhou Shijun, the global marketing head for Arctech, a manufacturer of mounting systems for large-scale solar installations, warned that trade barriers on Chinese products could hinder efforts to combat climate change.
Speaking to the Financial Times from Arctech’s headquarters in Kunshan, near Shanghai, he noted that trade barriers were unfairly impacting manufacturers with advanced technologies and no excess output while companies producing cheaper, lower-end technologies were more likely to face overcapacity problems.
Zhou mentioned that while China remains their largest market, Arctech is targeting growth in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, with no plans to enter the US market.
“We do have concerns that geopolitical tensions are affecting our global business. What we’re doing right now is diversifying,” Zhou said to the Financial Times.
Arctech’s tracking systems optimise large-scale solar power plants by adjusting panel positions over the day for maximum sun exposure.
Dominating the market
As a result of extensive state investment, fierce local competition, and growing domestic demand for green technologies, the latest figures show that China dominates over 80% of international solar manufacturing.
Some segments of China’s solar manufacturing industry have turned to exports to offload surplus supply, leading to price drops and complaints from the US and Europe about China’s trade practices.
US President Joe Biden significantly increased tariffs on Chinese imports last Tuesday, including electric vehicles and solar cells, and announced plans to end an exemption from Trump-era tariffs on certain solar panel units.
Similarly, the EU has launched investigations into China’s electric vehicle, solar, and wind industries and released a report on state-induced economic distortions.
Despite geopolitical challenges, Zhou explained that the global shift towards large-scale renewable energy is “irreversible and inevitable,” anticipating that other countries will follow China’s lead in developing extensive solar installations.
