China’s clean‑tech exports set to cut 450 Mt CO₂ annually, report says

The Finland‑based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air estimates the 2026 export surge will offset roughly 24% of global emissions.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 29 Oct 2026 20:40:30 GMT

China is exporting a record amount of clean‑energy technology and equipment in 2026, a development that could avert about 450 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to a report released Thursday.

What happened

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), based in Finland, tracked a 61% rise in Chinese electric‑vehicle exports, a 45% jump in shipments of wind turbines, a 39% spike in battery exports and a 22% growth in overseas sales of solar equipment during the first nine months of 2026. The analysis says that once the exported gear is installed or deployed, the emissions avoided will be roughly equivalent to Brazil’s annual output.

What the reports add

Both Independent and Fortune cite the same CREA estimate of about 450 million metric tons of CO₂ avoided annually, equal to Brazil’s emissions.
The Independent article links the surge to “the energy crisis from the Iran war” and notes that Southeast Asia was a major destination, with Chinese clean‑tech exports to the region jumping nearly 160% year‑on‑year.
Both outlets report that the value of China’s electric‑vehicle exports hit $72.8 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up from $39.7 billion a year earlier, according to Atlas Public Policy.
If the 2026 trends continue, CREA estimates about 8,400 million metric tons of CO₂ will be averted over the lifetime of the exported clean‑tech, representing roughly 24% of annual global emissions – more than the combined emissions of the United States and India.
Despite higher U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, Chinese clean‑tech exports to the United States rose 13% in January‑September 2026.
Ember senior policy analyst Muyi Yang likened China’s energy transition to “replacing the engine of a ship while it’s still at sea.”

What was said

“This is a pivot point for the outlook of global energy and global emissions,” said Lauri Myllyvirta, with CREA, as reported by both outlets.

“We’re seeing growth in clean energy that is much, much faster than anyone predicted just a few years ago,” Myllyvirta added.

“The demand is much stronger than I expected,” Myllyvirta told reporters.

“That’s certainly noteworthy,” he said.

“China is both the world’s biggest provider of clean‑tech equipment and the largest global source of carbon emissions,” noted the articles, echoing CREA’s analysis.

How it came about

The export surge follows years of China becoming the world’s largest supplier of renewable‑energy equipment, ranging from solar panels and wind turbines to electric vehicles and batteries. The surge is driven by heightened demand for renewables amid the energy crisis triggered by the Iran war, which has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a key oil‑shipping chokepoint. Earlier this month, Felo News reported that China, the United States and India together accounted for half of global greenhouse‑gas emissions in 2025, underscoring the significance of any reduction in Chinese‑driven emissions.

Key facts

China’s 2026 clean‑tech exports could avert about 450 million metric tons of CO₂ annually. (independent.co.uk)
The emissions avoided are roughly equal to Brazil’s yearly emissions. (fortune.com)
CREA recorded a 61% increase in Chinese EV exports and a 45% rise in other renewable‑energy equipment in the first nine months of 2026. (independent.co.uk)