Citicore Renewable Energy has developed the largest solar farm in Arayat, Philippines. This illustrative project demonstrates the growing reliance on Chinese technology across the renewable energy value chain. The installation makes new use of solar panels, which come from China, the country currently known as the world’s “clean energy factory.” Global conversations around the impact of climate change are rapidly escalating. This advance comes at a critical moment, just ahead of the world’s biggest international climate summits.
The solar farm at Arayat not only demonstrates Citicore’s commitment to renewable energy infrastructure but illustrates China’s pivotal role in the global clean energy market. China is currently the largest exporter of solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs), and wind turbines. With that came the ire of environmentalists, who called it out for being the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter. Compounding this duality is the question of China’s leadership in establishing a positive, offensive-minded climate change agenda.
The solar panels used in Citicore’s project originate from China, reflecting the country’s significant manufacturing capabilities. China uses its immense production capacity to become the world’s dominant solar technology supplier. This action further cements China’s role as the world’s dominant actor in the renewable energy industry. Citicore’s initiative at Arayat provides an excellent example of how countries like the Philippines are leveraging these technologies to boost their energy independence.
While China’s economic development has accelerated the development of clean energy technology, the country’s environmental attitude has been criticized as authoritarian. In particular, critics argue that China has jumped ahead in clean technology. While they’re celebrating those achievements, they think it hasn’t gone far enough in addressing its greenhouse gas emissions. This inherent contradiction presents a specific hurdle to global leaders who are working to create a unified front in their climate commitments.
Photographer Ramon Royandoyan captured an image of Citicore Renewable Energy’s solar farm, showcasing the scale and impact of this renewable energy project. The new facility is an important milestone toward clean, renewable, and sustainable energy solutions in the region. It also underscores the dangers of relying on a country that leads the world in manufacturing clean energy technologies, but remains the world’s largest contributor to global emissions.
As the conversation about global warming progresses, the culpability of countries like China is a hot button issue. They provide indispensable technologies for renewable energy initiatives, including Citicore’s solar farm. Their emissions footprint throws into question their claims of being climate action leaders.