A new study finds that imported solar panels displaced 305 TWh of fossil fuel generation in the US between 2014 and 2022, preventing around 595 premature deaths linked to air pollution by avoiding 178 million tons of carbon dioxide.
The monetized value of these health and climate benefits, estimated at around $28 billion, has already offset about half of the module costs, according to the study from Stony Brook University and the City University of New York (CUNY).
On average, it explains, each kW of imported solar capacity generated $180 in annualized climate and health benefits, offsetting nearly half the PV module cost in 2020.
“As policymakers consider reshaping energy trade and manufacturing strategies, our findings demonstrate that global supply chains not only reduce costs but also deliver significant public health and climate dividends that should be incorporated into decision-making,” reads the study.
It looks into the societal benefits of global clean energy supply chains in terms of health and climate improvement, in the US context. The research team looked into combined shipment records, power plant data, and a reduced complexity air quality model to determine the findings. Most of this imported capacity came from Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Solar imports from these nations to the US are now subject to antidumping and countervailing duties (see US Solar Imports From Cambodia Hit Hardest With Final AD/CVD Duties).
North and South Carolina, Texas, and parts of California saw greater health and climate benefits, as imported solar panels displaced some of the country’s dirtiest power plants located in densely populated areas. However, thanks to how “electricity and air pollution move across state lines,” the benefits of this technology also reached 43% of people living outside the importing states.
“Global supply chains have helped make solar power affordable,” said Professor Gang He, who led the study. “But what’s often missed is how these imports also clean the air, protect health, and reduce climate damages. These are benefits that extend well beyond electricity prices.”
Renewable energy deployment can displace electricity generation that would otherwise be supplied by fossil-fuel power plants, argue the researchers.
The findings come at a time when governments are reevaluating their reliance on imported solar panels for energy security and jobs in times of geopolitical challenges. However, moving away from global supply chains too quickly could slow clean energy adoption and reduce its positive effects on health and the environment, caution the authors.
“Our research shows that imported solar panels do more than save money,” added He. “They save lives and reduce emissions. As we redesign energy and trade policies, we need to make sure we’re not leaving these benefits off the table.”
The study titled Imported solar photovoltaics contributed to health and climate benefits in the United States, has been published in One Earth.
