Global solar PV manufacturing capacity has increasingly moved from Europe, Japan and the United States to China over the last decade. China has invested over USD 50 billion in new PV supply capacity – ten times more than Europe − and created more than 300 000 manufacturing jobs across the solar PV value chain since 2011.
How Does Solar Work? Solar manufacturing encompasses the production of products and materials across the solar value chain. While some concentrating solar-thermal manufacturing exists, most solar manufacturing in the United States is related to photovoltaic (PV) systems.
In 2023 and 2024, global solar PV manufacturing capacity is expected to double, with China again claiming over 90% of this increase. Meanwhile, the forecast expects significant wafer, cell, and module manufacturing expansion in the ASEAN region through investments from Chinese manufacturers.
In Sicily, in southern Italy, a solar panel factory (the 3SUN Gigafactory) has, through a combination of continuous innovation and production since 2010, positioned itself as a leader in the renewable energy space. It started production in 2011 using thin-film silicon technology, which at the time was mainstream.
New solar PV manufacturing facilities along the supply chain could attract USD 120 billion investment by 2030. Annual investment levels need to double throughout the supply chain. Critical sectors such as polysilicon, ingots and wafers would attract the majority of investment to support growing demand.
China has invested over USD 50 billion in new PV supply capacity – ten times more than Europe − and created more than 300 000 manufacturing jobs across the solar PV value chain since 2011. Today, China’s share in all the manufacturing stages of solar panels (such as polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells and modules) exceeds 80%.