this post was submitted on 03 Jun 2024
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China

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Machine translation of some excerpts from the article:

"China currently produces more than 90% of the world's polysilicon and 98% of solar silicon wafers, more than 85% of solar cells, and more than 80% of photovoltaic modules."

"In addition to being easy to use and cheap, another characteristic of China's photovoltaic panels is that they are strong and have a particularly long service life."

"Long service life is an advantage, but with the explosive growth of China's photovoltaic technology and industrial chain in the last two decades or so, this long life has also become a disadvantage."

"Some places need to relocate photovoltaics, some places need to replace the latest photovoltaics, in short, China has many obsolete second-hand photovoltaic modules for various reasons."

"These antique photovoltaic modules from more than ten years ago are sold back and basically no one wants them, they are difficult to sell, the proceeds from the sales are not enough to pay the salesperson, and the value of recycling is basically zero."

"These photovoltaic panels are now rubbish, but more than ten years ago they were absolutely high-tech, and even now they are really good things that can generate electricity. It is indeed a pity to just throw them away."

"There are too many areas in the world without power grids, especially poor countries such as Africa, which can only set up power grids in cities. Most of the rural areas are without power grids, because the construction of power grids It costs a lot of money, and it cannot recover the cost of pulling power grids to poor areas."

"But people in these areas yearn for electric energy and want to live a life where they can light up light bulbs, and they want to charge their mobile phones at home, even better if they can use an electric kettle to boil water."

"At this time, second-hand photovoltaic panels that had been phased out in China appeared, perfectly meeting the needs of the people in these areas."

"There is no need to set up an expensive power grid. Just lay a little photovoltaic panel wherever electricity is needed. A photovoltaic panel equipped with a small battery can meet the electricity needs of a household."

"These products have significantly improved the standard of living of rural households in Africa"

"In some villages and towns, large numbers of photovoltaic panels will also be gathered to set up small power plants, and a small grid will be set up in this area alone. Although this kind of electric energy is very unstable and relies heavily on the sun, at least it has electric energy, thus giving this area the possibility to develop industry."

"Second-hand photovoltaic panels, phased out by China, have given rural households in Africa light at a price that is almost free."

"Some countries use science and technology to exploit and suppress the weak, while China uses science and technology to support and help the weak, and the people are overjoyed."

"This is the different understanding of technology among civilizations."

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[–] multitotal@lemmygrad.ml 30 points 5 months ago

Debt trap! Imperialism! China is undermining Western diplomacy!

[–] cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml 26 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

My own personal view is that this is a temporary solution. Individual household or village level solar panel setups are not a substitute for a centralized, state run national power grid (though they can of course serve as a useful supplement to one). But they can help somewhat improve living standards and make the transition easier, as having at least some electricity that is cheap and affordable (and does not rely on having to have fossil fuels delivered to such remote and infrastructurally poorly connected regions) can enable these areas to develop economically. It makes basic industry possible and facilitates people starting small businesses, and this economic activity can then in turn generate the revenue for a government to fund further infrastructure construction. Of course this requires a state or local government that is willing to invest in the larger projects and co-operate with countries like China to help build that infrastructure. A neo-colonial comprador regime will never do this.

[–] TheWurstman@hexbear.net 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It can also save a lot of lives lots of people die due to respiratory illnesses from using dirty fuel for cooking.

[–] cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 5 months ago

True. That's yet another in a long list of benefits.

[–] facow@hexbear.net 14 points 5 months ago

Illegal dumping! They're ruining the free market!