China installed more solar capacity in 2023 than the US has in its entire history, but much of this growth relies on coal-fired power. The energy-intensive production of polysilicon in regions like Xinjiang creates a significant upfront carbon debt for every panel produced. While solar panels remain carbon-positive over their lifetime, the reliance on coal for manufacturing complicates the global transition. True decarbonization requires cleaning up the supply chain and reducing the embedded emissions of photovoltaic hardware.
