One-Pager Published July 6, 2011 · Updated July 6, 2011 · 3 minute read
By the Numbers: China, the U.S., and Clean Energy Manufacturing
Josh Freed & Robert Walther
China Dominates Global Manufacturing
In 2010, China surpassed the United States as the world’s top producer of goods. How have they accomplished this? Among other strategies, its government leaders have hitched their economy to the developing $2.3 trillion clean energy market. Here are the facts you need to tell this story:
#1 China currently ranks first in manufacturing. For the first time in more than a century, the United States does not lead the world in manufacturing. China manufactured 20% of all the goods in the world in 2010.1
By 2016 China’s GDP will be the largest in the world and the U.S. will fall to second place.2 The
United States became the world’s largest economy in the 1870s.3
China is now a Market-Maker in Renewables
China saw in clean energy technology an opportunity not only to create a stable source of power for its own economy, but a chance to create goods the world will buy and use. Now, it is the
clear global leader and is reaping the rewards for its national commitment.
100,000 new clean energy industry jobs are created annually in China.4
50% of all solar panels and wind turbines were manufactured in China in 2010.5 4 of the top 10 wind power manufacturers in 2010 were Chinese. Only 1 of the top 10 was American.6
Chinese companies control 66% of the $39 billion global solar photovoltaic cell production market, including the top global provider.7 U.S. share of the global solar market in 2010 was
10%, down from 42% in 2005.8
China is Investing in Electric Vehicles
Oil resources are running out, and more nations are competing to use what is left. China believes that decreasing its reliance on gasoline is in the best interest of its economy, noting how oil price shocks have wrought havoc on the American economy 14 times in the past three decades.
500,000 electric vehicles will be built in China by the end of 2012.9 The U.S. is not likely to manufacture its 500,000th electric vehicle until 2016.10
The Chinese government has pledged $15 billion to the development of alternative-fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles over the next 10 years.11
China is Cornering the Rare Earth Metals and Raw Materials Markets
To ensure that its manufacturing is well supplied, China determined that it must corner the market on the raw materials needed to make advanced energy technologies. Rare earth metals are critical for the components of many clean energy components, including batteries and the magnets used in wind turbines.12
95% of the world’s rare earth metals are produced in China or by Chinese companies overseas.
125,000 tons of rare earth metals were used globally in 2010.13
China’s annual demand for rare earth metals is 50-60% as a portion of total global demand. The country has accounted for more than half of worldwide demand since 2005.14
