Lujiagou dismantles photovoltaic panel factory

Will Xinjiang & China produce solar panels?

Xinjiang will produce about half of the polysilicon in these panels, based on BNEF projections, and China will account for more than 80% of the overall supply. But consumers can’t track the provenance of their panels, since raw materials from multiple factories mix together along the solar supply chain.

Are China's solar companies reshaping?

Solar panels at the Tianjiao Green Energy Photovoltaic Project in Ordos. China’s beleaguered solar manufacturers have seen their shares rebound in recent days as speculation mounts that the government will take steps to maintain the industry’s rapid build-up of capacity.

Do Uyghur workers work for solar panels?

US Markets Loading... A construction worker walks past solar panels installed in Xinjiang, China. The world's biggest solar producers employ forced Uyghur labor, according to new research. Breakthrough Institute reports Uyghur workers extract and develop raw materials in tough conditions.

Why are solar companies struggling in China?

Many of China’s provinces are struggling to service their debts. Solar companies must also compete for government largesse with firms in other industries that are grappling with overcapacity as China’s economy slows. More than a fifth of Chinese industrial firms were unprofitable last year, according to analysis by Rhodium, another consultancy.

Could Xinjiang's labor program lead to the solar industry?

The veil over Xinjiang has made the search for answers about the links between China’s labor program and its solar industry a job for outside researchers—who, it turns out, have found potentially telling details just by combing through public records. Residents stop for a chat nearby the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in downtown Urumqi.

Are Uyghur workers threatening the global solar supply chain?

Breakthrough Institute reports Uyghur workers extract and develop raw materials in tough conditions. The alleged use of forced Uyghur labor could threaten the growth of the global solar supply chain. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox.