Navigating the Political and the Economic Landscape of Responsible Practices in the Chinese Solar Photovoltaic Supply Chain
Author
Nzongo-Rondeau, Nelson Jules Kiéssé
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-05-12
Pages
55
Abstract
This thesis examines how China’s dominance across the solar photovoltaic (PV) supply chain shapes responsible and sustainable practices in manufacturing. The central research question asks how Chinese dominance might generate sustainability issues in the PV manufacturing supply chain. Guided by stakeholder theory, liberalism, and sustainable supply chain management, the study conducts a theory-led analysis of political and economic drivers, including China’s Five-Year Plans, and maps the production stages from polysilicon to module. The analysis finds that these plans promote sustainable practices and set ambitious solar targets, yet significant challenges persist: a growing industry carbon footprint, pressures on resources and critical metals, vulnerabilities from supply chain concentration, and social and environmental risks in extraction and processing. The thesis recommends reducing concentration risks by diversifying the supply chain, encouraging investment in solar cell production beyond China, and exploring lower-carbon logistics such as modern rail links associated with the Belt and Road Initiative, to better balance economic growth with environmental and social responsibility.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan Kinas dominans i hele den solcellebaserede (PV) forsyningskæde påvirker ansvarlighed og bæredygtighed i produktionen. Det centrale forskningsspørgsmål er, hvordan kinesisk dominans kan skabe bæredygtighedsproblemer i PV-fremstillingskæden. Med afsæt i interessentteori, liberalisme og bæredygtig forsyningskædeledelse gennemfører studiet en teoriunderstøttet analyse af politiske og økonomiske drivkræfter, herunder Kinas femårsplaner, og kortlægger produktionsleddene fra polysilicium til modul. Analysen peger på, at femårsplanerne fremmer bæredygtige praksisser og opstiller ambitiøse mål for solenergi, men også at der består væsentlige udfordringer: sektorens voksende CO2-aftryk, pres på ressourcer og kritiske metaller, sårbarheder ved koncentrerede forsyningskæder samt sociale og miljømæssige risici i råvareudvinding og forarbejdning. Afhandlingen anbefaler at mindske koncentrationsrisici ved at diversificere forsyningskæden, stimulere investeringer i solcelleproduktion uden for Kina og undersøge mere bæredygtig transport, for eksempel gennem moderne jernbanenetværk i Bælte- og Vej-Initiativet, for bedre at balancere økonomisk vækst med miljø- og samfundshensyn.
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