China has increasingly dominated the market for polysilicon, the essential ingredient in solar panels, over the last dozen years.

Although crediting China with being “instrumental” to bringing down the costs for solar photovoltaics (PV), IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said other countries also must establish their own manufacturing bases.

“Solar PV’s global supply chains will need to be scaled up in a way that ensures they are resilient, affordable and sustainable.” Birol said about the IEA’s new report on the topic.