Chinese Products

I was at an event listening to a panel of experts discuss environmental construction. During the debate about PV the majority of the panel expressed anti Chinese views some even saying “PV panels from China are rubbish” and we should just buy European and Japanese technologies. Such sweeping statements are ridiculous as currently over 50% of all renewable technologies manufactured in the world are manufactured in China and a lot are re-branded by European, American and Japanese companies. Therefore there is a good chance your European panel is either made in china or a component in the kit is from China.

My main concerns with China are human rights and pollution issues not the quality of products, it should be remembered western companies have gone to china solely for cheap manufacturing. The technological developments in China are now market leading and they are at the forefront of some industrial advances.

However it would be naïve to assume all Chinese renewables companies are great as there are unscrupulous traders all over the world, so with legal and language barriers to trade many companies fall foul but we shouldn’t tar all with the same brush. Any trade with China should be treated like any other country with human rights issues, be sure the factories treat their staff properly and they use the correct raw materials & components and don’t pollute their local environment. We now operate in a global market, buyer beware & ethical but don’t be racist.