Trade characteristics, competition patterns and COVID-19 related shock propagation in the global solar photovoltaic cell trade

With the rapid depletion of fossil fuels and increasing concern about climate change, photovoltaic systems have become a key technology option for realizing a decarbonized power sector and sustainable energy supply. The global trade in photovoltaic cells has increased dramatically in the last two decades and deserves a dedicated investigation. First, from a static analysis perspective, this study builds the global photovoltaic cell trade network and trade competition network from 2000 to 2019 and analyzes the trade characteristics and competition pattern in the global photovoltaic cell trade. Second, from a dynamic analysis perspective, the potential impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 on the global photovoltaic cell trade is simulated based on 2019 trade data. The network analyses show that China, Germany and Japan have long dominated the trade market in photovoltaic cells. From 2000 to 2019, China’s total imports and exports were the largest. Asian countries held an important position in global photovoltaic cell exports. The competition in the global photovoltaic cell trade was concentrated in Asia and Europe. The simulation results indicate that the global photovoltaic cell trade network shows a “robust-yet-fragile” configuration. This network is more resistant to demand-reduction-driven shocks than to supply-reduction-driven shocks. Policy implications are provided for managing the photovoltaic cell trade at the national and global levels and coping with future extreme disturbances.