The war in Iran is sharpening China’s advantage in promoting a renewable energy future, as oil disruptions expose the fragility of fossil fuel systems. Higher fuel prices are accelerating interest in electric vehicles and other clean technologies across Asia.
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This NYC Ballet principal dancer doesn't regret taking itToo young for the MMR shot, babies become 'sitting ducks' in measles outbreaksJudge bars Arizona from regulating prediction market operators and pauses prosecution of KalshiIt's music festival season. How to stay safe and healthy while enjoying the showFrom 'BuddhaBot' to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus, the faith-based tech boom is hereZelenskyy afirma que Ucrania derribó drones Shahed en países de Oriente Medio durante guerra de Irán This NYC Ballet principal dancer doesn't regret taking itToo young for the MMR shot, babies become 'sitting ducks' in measles outbreaksJudge bars Arizona from regulating prediction market operators and pauses prosecution of KalshiIt's music festival season. How to stay safe and healthy while enjoying the showFrom 'BuddhaBot' to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus, the faith-based tech boom is hereZelenskyy afirma que Ucrania derribó drones Shahed en países de Oriente Medio durante guerra de IránFILE- Gao Huan, CTO of CATL’s China E-car Business, introduces the latest Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery from Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. FILE- Tibetan sheep graze at a solar farm in Hainan prefecture of western China’s Qinghai province on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. The Norco oil refinery is seen behind train tracks and residences in Norco, La., on April 2, 2026. A man looks at the electric Han EV sedan from Chinese automaker BYD during the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in Shanghai, on April 19, 2023. FILE- Gao Huan, CTO of CATL’s China E-car Business, introduces the latest Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery from Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. FILE- Gao Huan, CTO of CATL’s China E-car Business, introduces the latest Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery from Chinese battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. FILE- Tibetan sheep graze at a solar farm in Hainan prefecture of western China’s Qinghai province on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. FILE- Tibetan sheep graze at a solar farm in Hainan prefecture of western China’s Qinghai province on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. The Norco oil refinery is seen behind train tracks and residences in Norco, La., on April 2, 2026. The Norco oil refinery is seen behind train tracks and residences in Norco, La., on April 2, 2026. A man looks at the electric Han EV sedan from Chinese automaker BYD during the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in Shanghai, on April 19, 2023. A man looks at the electric Han EV sedan from Chinese automaker BYD during the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in Shanghai, on April 19, 2023. as global energy disruptions accelerate a shift away from fossil fuels and toward clean technologies and renewable power, industries that China dominates.. China leads the world in battery, solar and electric vehicle exports, and its industries are forecast to face a rise in demand for renewable products.scaled back on renewable energy and leaned on its vast oil and gas resources, promoting energy exports to achieve what Trump described as “energy dominance.” Now Chinese industry giants like vehicle-maker BYD and battery-producer CATL are well-positioned to capitalize on growing interest in low-emissions energy products as the world confronts the fragility of fossil fuels. “China’s approach to energy sector development and geopolitics has been completely validated by the Iran conflict,” said Sam Reynolds with the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.merged energy security with national security. China has since stepped up its focus on renewable energy, even though fossil fuels still dominate its domestic energy mix. China makes over 70% of EV manufacturing and about 85% of battery cell production globally, according to the International Energy Agency. Its current five-year plan until 2030 continues to prioritize these industries. “They are at the very forefront of this, more so than any other countries in the world, certainly more so than the United States,” said Li Shuo, director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s China Climate Hub.Markets were witnessing a “bifurcation” before the war, Reynolds said, with the superpowers pushing very different energy futures, leaving other countries with complex choices on which approach to back.The Iran war is driving demand for Chinese technology, whose exports of items such as solar panels, batteries and electric cars hit a record of almost $22.3 billion in December. That was up about 47% from the year before, with much going to Southeast Asia and Europe, according to the think tank Ember. Investment in renewable power and battery storage — designed to save energy when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing — is expected to increase in nations heavily dependent on energy imports, including European countries, according to the credit rating firm Fitch Ratings. Investors are betting the war will boost demand for renewables. In March, CATL and BYD’s Hong Kong traded shares rose roughly 24% and 11%, respectively. Over the past few years, Chinese automakers were already expanding EV development and production while growing exports faster than American or European rivals, offering cheaper models and gaining ground in regions like Southeast Asia.The energy shock is “going to help the Chinese industry globally and hurt the American car industry globally,” said Amy Myers Jaffe of New York University’s Center for Global Affairs.Rising fuel prices also may boost BYD growth in China, said Chris Liu with the research and advisory firm Omdia.Households facing higher energy costs are likely to move to clean power, said James Bowen of the Australia-based consultancy ReMap Research. Pakistan offers an early example. Its renewable rollout in 2017 led to more than 50 gigawatts of Chinese solar panels imported by December 2025. Pakistan still imports a third of its energy. About 80% of its oil flowed through the Strait of Hormuz, and Qatar had been supplying a quarter of its LNG. But “the shock isn’t as big as it would have been without solar,” said Nabiya Imran of Renewables First. If prices remain high, solar could save Pakistan $6.3 billion in fossil fuel imports over the next year, according to think tanks Renewables First and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. In the United Kingdom, EV leasing demand jumped by more than a third in the first three weeks of March compared to a similar period in February before the war, according to Octopus Energy, a renewable group. Octopus also reported increases in rooftop solar sales and solar-related inquiries. Prolonged fuel spikes may act as a future catalyst for EVs, but it will take time to see the trend reflected in purchases, partly because customers are likely waiting to see how the conflict plays out, said Patrick Tan, with the energy consultancy Aurora Research. Even Indonesia, the world’s largest coal exporter, is recalibrating in ways that could make it a bigger customer for China’s clean energy technology. In March, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced a push into EVs, including plans to produce electric cars and expand charging infrastructure. The dream of electrified transportation is gaining renewed attention, said Putra Adhiguna of the Jakarta-based think tank Energy Shift Institute. Chinese firms play a major role in Indonesia’s clean energy supply chain. They signed more than $54 billion dollars’ worth of deals with the state utility in 2023 and added a $10 billion pledge during Prabowo’sThe Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’sChan writes about business and economy in China for The Associated Press, reporting on key sectors of the world’s second-largest economy from trade and technology to autos. He is based in Hong Kong.Ghosal covers the intersection of business and climate change in southeast Asia for The Associated Press. He is based out of Hanoi in Vietnam.Delgado covers climate and energy issues across Southeast Asia for The Associated Press. He is based out of Bangkok, Thailand.
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