The embrace of China’s clean industry by countries in the Global South marks an unstoppable trend of the times, a phenomenon that not only underscores the growing recognition of its sustainable development but also demonstrates that Western attempts to block China’s technology products from entering the global market are ultimately futile. As the Global South increasingly prioritizes development and collaboration, it becomes clear that the future of clean technology lies in the hands of those willing to embrace progress instead of playing geopolitical games.
For instance, the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned renewable energy company Masdar, also known as Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co, recently announced plans to develop the world’s first round the clock gigascale combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project, capable of delivering 1 gigawatt of continuous clean energy, with a total investment of $6 billion, Chinese news site thepaper.cn reported on Sunday.
This project represents significant progress in the field of clean energy in the Middle East region, and it is also noteworthy that several Chinese companies were selected as preferred suppliers for the project, once again demonstrating the strong competitiveness and wide influence of China’s clean energy industry in the global market. JA Solar and Jinko Solar, two of China’s largest photovoltaic module suppliers, and CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer and a leading BESS supplier, are preferred suppliers for the project, according to a media release posted on Masdar’s website.
This collaboration underscores the growing acceptance of China’s clean energy products among countries in the Global South. In recent years, the UAE has strategically promoted sustainable development and engaged in partnerships with Chinese companies, aiming to achieve economic diversification through investments in renewable energy and green finance. As a key economy in the Middle East, its development is a microcosm of the Global South’s pursuit of sustainable development.
The Global South has been the largest importer of Chinese solar and wind energy equipment since 2015, according to Dialogue Earth, citing data from the United Nations Comtrade database. The statistics reflect the strong appeal of a wide range of high-quality and cost-efficient technology products from China in the global market. China’s clean energy technology products, known for their efficiency and reliability at competitive prices, effectively address the urgent needs of countries undergoing energy transitions.
Many countries in the Global South are undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to increased energy demand while simultaneously grappling with resource scarcity and environmental pollution. The green projects developed in collaboration with Chinese companies deliver clean and reliable energy to local communities and significantly lower the costs associated with the energy transition. Such green cooperation showcases China’s technological advantages and market potential in the global clean energy sector, highlighting the crucial role in supporting the green transition.
However, the US and some Western countries, under the excuse of so-called “security” concerns, have been attempting to block Chinese clean energy products from entering the global market, which undoubtedly goes against market principles and global energy transition efforts. The enthusiastic response to Chinese clean technology in the global market serves as the strongest rebuttal to their attempts.
The active acceptance of Chinese clean technology by countries in the Global South highlights the rational choice of the market for high-quality technology. The West’s resistance to this rational choice actually cuts itself off from opportunities for progress and development in the right direction, which will only severely impact their own market demand for energy transition.
The Western pressure has instead spurred Chinese clean energy companies to intensify their efforts in innovation and market expansion. Indeed, the competitiveness of Chinese companies has been further exemplified by continuous market expansion, again proving China’s indispensable position in the global energy transition process.
