Joined at the Hip, the US-China Clean Energy Relationship

Global clean energy research and data provider Bloomberg New Energy Finance takes a fresh look at US-China clean energy trade, technology, and policy relationships and finds them inextricably interwoven in its latest Research Note: "Joined at the Hip: The US-China clean energy relationship." The study looks beyond the headline investment figures and finds there to be little zero-sum competition between the two nations and, in fact, the two countries will need to cooperate in many ways in order to meet their respective carbon reduction goals.

“It is easy to paint clean energy trade between the US and China in terms of winners and losers, but the relationship defies simplistic assumptions”

"It is easy to paint clean energy trade between the US and China in terms of winners and losers, but the relationship defies simplistic assumptions,” said Michael Liebreich, chief executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. “For instance, while China has made significant inroads into the US photovoltaic market, Chinese modules are often manufactured using machines designed by US firms. Similarly, US-made wind turbines almost always contain parts sourced from China. The two nations may be in competition, but the big win for both of them would be to drive the cost of clean power generation below the cost of fossil fuels."

The 23-page Research Note provides detailed analysis of five key topics: drivers of clean energy growth in the US and China; competition and market shares in wind and solar manufacturing; comparative value chains in the two countries; innovation and cost reductions; and the politics and economics of protectionism.

Key findings include: