Clean energy technologies like solar photovoltaics (PV), wind turbines, and lithium-ion batteries have gone from relatively expensive technologies produced and deployed by a small number of countries to cost-competitive technologies produced and deployed all over the world. Due to these cost declines, improved performance, and greater public and private sector support for renewable energy, the market for clean energy technology is positioned to grow even faster over the next couple of decades.  

Countries have tried to promote and protect domestic manufacturers of clean energy technologies with limited success, as two case studies in this report will highlight. Even China, the country that has experienced the greatest success cultivating a manufacturing base for these technologies, did so at a tremendous cost not likely to be borne by many other countries.