China is rapidly becoming the world’s leading manufacturer of renewable energy products. China is now producing 35-45% of the planet’s photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, though over 95% of these panels are exported. The Chinese government is now looking into preferential pricing policies (such as a feed-in tariff) to promote solar energy deployment domestically.

Check out this informative video on solar photovoltaic (PV) production in China from Climateworks:

As this video notes, 60-70% of the jobs in solar energy are in the design and installation of solar systems, rather than manufacturing. There has been a lot of rhetoric from President Obama and others as of late about how the US is lagging behind green energy development.

Solar Photovoltaic Array in Death Valley, CA

But as a lot of green jobs will have to be local (installation, retrofitting, and maintenance), even if China dominates green tech manufacturing (as they are doing in most other sectors), why worry so much about it? As long as renewable energy deployment is encouraged (and the true cost of burning fossil fuels is accounted for), the US economy should realize most of the gains from the transition to a clean energy economy.

Thoughts?