China's record-breaking exports of clean tech are making a big dent in
emissions, report says
[October 29, 2026] By
ANTON L. DELGADO
BANGKOK (AP) — China is exporting a record amount of clean energy
technology and equipment as the energy crisis from the Iran war drives
surging demand for renewables, and that will help reduce global
emissions, according to a report released Thursday.
Once installed or deployed, these 2026 exports will likely avert
emissions of about 450 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year,
roughly equal to Brazil’s annual emissions, says the analysis by the
Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
It's a small sign of progress as global efforts to curb climate change
fall short. In November, Turkey will host annual U.N. climate talks
where electrification is expected to be a leading topic.
"This is a pivot point for the outlook of global energy and global
emissions," said Lauri Myllyvirta, with CREA. “We’re seeing growth in
clean energy that is much, much faster than anyone predicted just a few
years ago.”
Record-breaking year for Chinese exports
China is by far the largest global supplier of renewable energy
equipment, from solar panels and wind turbines to electric vehicles and
batteries. Most of what it makes is sold domestically, but a sizeable
share is exported.
In the first nine months of 2026, CREA tracked a 61% increase in exports
of electric vehicles, a 45% jump in shipments of wind turbines, a 39%
spike in battery exports and 22% growth in overseas sales of solar
equipment, compared to the same period last year.
Southeast Asia was a major destination. China's clean energy exports to
the region jumped nearly 160% from last year to this September,
according to Ember, an independent global energy think tank.
The value of China's electric vehicle exports hit $72.8 billion in the
first nine months of this year, up from $39.7 billion last year,
according to the research firm Atlas Public Policy.
Chinese clean tech dents emissions
If these export trends continue for the rest of 2026, about 8,400
million metric tons of carbon dioxide will be averted over the lifetime
of all the clean tech China exported this year, CREA estimates.
That's about 24% of annual global emissions, more than the United
States' and India's emissions combined.
The analysis by CREA is based on export data, the electricity systems in
destination countries and Chinese emissions during manufacturing.
Independent experts said the estimate was in line with the scale of
China's exports, but were unable to validate the data.
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Installers haul a solar panel onto the roof of a home in Manila,
Philippines, on April 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Anton L. Delgado)
 Despite President Donald Trump's
higher tariffs, Chinese clean tech exports to the U.S. rose 13% in
January-September compared to a year earlier.
“The demand is much stronger than I expected,” Myllyvirta said.
“That’s certainly noteworthy.”
China is both the world's biggest provider of clean tech equipment
and the largest global source of carbon emissions.
Muyi Yang, a senior policy analyst at Ember, likened China's energy
transition to replacing the engine of a ship while it's still at
sea.
Interest in renewables likely to persist, experts say
The drastic war-related disruptions to shipping through the Strait
of Hormuz, usually the source for a fifth of the world’s oil and
gas, hit import-dependent Asian countries first and hardest.
Renewed interest in clean energy options is likely to persist even
after the war, said Yu Sun Chin, with the research group Zero Carbon
Analytics.
Consumers in Southeast Asia are paying more for their electricity
and fuel and opting for renewable alternatives such as rooftop
solar.
Laos, Thailand and Vietnam have offered various incentives for
installing solar and purchasing electric vehicles to help reduce
dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The Philippines implemented similar policies and became the
second-largest destination for Chinese solar exports in the first
quarter of 2026. Indonesia has pledged to install 100 gigawatts of
solar power by 2029.
“The surge in clean energy policies in Southeast Asia shows there is
a paradigm shift happening,” Chin said. “Considering Southeast Asia
is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate impacts, every
emission cut matters in limiting a rise in global temperatures.”
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