Reshoring solar panel production to US can ease climate change

China has so far dominated the production of solar panels, but with the importance of solar power plant being recognized all over the world, prominent countries are hastening to ensure that they have a robust domestic solar cell and panel manufacturing ecosystem. Here is a news item about a research study in the context of “reshoring” solar panel manufacturing to the US.

Interestingly, the study argues that not only would bringing back solar cell and panel production to the US contribute more to the national economy, but that it would also decrease the CO2 emissions from solar panel production. Now, how is this possible?

The authors of the research study argue that the panel manufacturing carbon emissions will be lower because a large portion of the electricity used during the panel production would come from renewable sources – as the US is ramping up its renewable energy production from solar and wind power plant installations. Currently, in most parts of the world (especially China, where most panels are made), a large portion of the electricity produced is from coal and natural gas, both of which emit CO2 emissions and thus contribute significantly to the carbon footprint of the solar cells and panels made using it.