China continues to break new ground in the solar power industry, and the rest of the world needs to study its success. Ned Ekins-Daukes, the head of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of New South Wales, shared this message on Wednesday. He spoke directly to reporters and industry colleagues at the 64th Smart Energy Council Conference and Exhibition in Sydney. The massive trade show drew nearly 10,000 energy professionals to discuss the future of clean technology.
Ekins-Daukes frequently visits China to tour its sprawling solar facilities. Yet, he said the sheer speed of their innovation still amazes him every single time he steps onto a factory floor. He specifically praised China for making massive strides in producing silicon photovoltaic feedstock, the core raw material needed for solar panels. He also noted their heavy reliance on robotic automation and their unique ability to bring the entire supply chain together in one place. Today, China produces roughly 80% of the world’s solar equipment, and Ekins-Daukes believes other nations must understand how they achieved this incredible scale.
According to the professor, Western countries can learn two major lessons from the Chinese approach. The very first lesson involves policy stability. Building advanced manufacturing plants requires serious capital and long-term planning. Corporate executives will not risk $1 billion or more on a new facility if government support changes after every short election cycle. China gives its manufacturers long-term guarantees. This firm foundation allows companies to scale their clean energy technologies rapidly without fearing sudden shifts in government funding or green energy policies.
The second major lesson focuses on clustering capability. Ekins-Daukes explained that when Chinese companies decide to build a factory, they do not just construct a single building in an empty field. Instead, they build a complete, self-sustaining ecosystem. They place glass manufacturers, raw silicon refineries, and final assembly lines right next to each other. This tight clustering eliminates expensive cross-country shipping costs and dramatically speeds up production time. A single industrial park might produce 15 gigawatts of solar capacity in just one year simply because the entire supply chain sits within walking distance.
Ekins-Daukes urged international observers to change their mindset. People outside of China often stand back, cross their arms, and complain that manufacturing solar panels remains too difficult or too expensive to manage domestically. He firmly rejected this lazy excuse. He stated that foreign leaders need to look closely at how technical development actually takes place in China. They must stop making excuses and start understanding the actual mechanics of Chinese engineering and factory innovation.
Chinese solar companies are also shifting their focus as they enter the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. This new national roadmap guides the economy from 2026 through 2030 and places a heavy emphasis on high-quality development. Ekins-Daukes explained that the industry no longer just wants to build higher volumes of cheap panels. Instead, researchers and engineers want to squeeze more electricity out of every single solar cell. Manufacturers now chase small but highly profitable efficiency gains. They fight to increase panel output by 1.5% or 2% each year to maximize the total value for end consumers.
Global events also play a massive role in driving this worldwide push toward renewable energy. Ekins-Daukes pointed to the current conflict in the Middle East as a prime example. Geopolitical tension creates wild, unpredictable swings in the global energy market. When sudden conflicts cause fossil fuel prices to jump by 10% or 15% overnight, countries scramble for energy security. These sharp price shocks make domestic solar power much more attractive. Ekins-Daukes noted that this market volatility will force Australia and China to work even closer together in the coming years.
Later in the event, Ekins-Daukes joined other prominent industry leaders at the Australia-China Smart Energy Partnership Forum. The panelists spent the afternoon discussing the future of bilateral cooperation. Australia possesses massive amounts of open, sun-drenched land, while China holds the advanced manufacturing technology to harvest that sunlight efficiently. Industry experts estimate that combining Australia’s natural resources with China’s technical equipment could unlock over $5 billion in joint energy projects by the end of the decade.
Ultimately, Ekins-Daukes wants to see the global community treat solar manufacturing as a collaborative effort rather than a bitter, closed-door competition. The climate crisis demands immediate action, and the world simply does not have the time to reinvent the wheel. By studying China’s approach to supply chains, policy stability, and continuous innovation, other nations can accelerate their own clean energy transitions and build a much more reliable global power grid.
