Global cleantech supply chain 2026 outlook: half-time report

Six months into 2026, the global cleantech supply chain is being pulled in competing directions. Geopolitical conflict, tightening import barriers and accelerating technology shifts are forcing manufacturers, developers and policymakers to make consequential decisions about where and how they build.

The dynamics flagged at the start of the year have not simply played out as expected. Several have intensified in ways that are already locking in structural changes. Chinese cleantech exports surged ahead of policy deadlines, lithium prices reversed course, upending battery economics, and the Strait of Hormuz closure introduced a new layer of cost and logistics risk that few had modelled.

What does the mid-year picture really tell us? Which parts of the supply chain face the greatest strain in the second half, and where are the emerging opportunities?

Our global team of experts has drawn on unique insights from Wood Mackenzie Lens Power & Renewables to deliver this comprehensive mid-year review of the global cleantech supply chain.

Fill in the form to download your complimentary copy, and read on for a short introduction to just a couple of the report's key themes:

Localisation pressures intensify, and the compliance burden is rising

US and European policy is fundamentally reshaping how solar, wind and storage supply chains are structured. In the US, IRS guidance on foreign entity of concern compliance is introducing stricter requirements for tax credits, forcing manufacturers to scrutinise upstream sourcing in new ways. Trade actions (including proposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on India, Indonesia and Laos) have already cut solar PV imports by around 50% year-on-year in Q1 2026.

In Europe, the Industrial Accelerator Act is mandating procurement of EU-made equipment for publicly funded projects, building on the Net-Zero Industry Act's 40% domestic manufacturing target and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The combined effect is a significant increase in compliance complexity and cost, even as gaps with imported Chinese equivalents remain wide.

Which manufacturers are best positioned to navigate these requirements, and which face the greatest exposure in the second half? Read our full analysis in the report.

Solar manufacturers move into storage - and the margin logic is compelling

China's leading solar module suppliers are accelerating their pivot into energy storage, and the financial rationale is clear. Despite shipping a record 477 GW of modules in 2025, the top 10 suppliers ended the year with a combined net loss of US$5.4 billion. With module prices at the bottom, technological differentiation between leading products narrowing, and storage gross margins running well above solar equivalents, the strategic case for diversification has become difficult to ignore.

All 10 of the top Chinese suppliers now offer storage solutions alongside their module businesses. Their established sales channels, developer relationships and local service networks give them a meaningful advantage over storage-focused newcomers; advantages that have taken years to build. Non-Chinese manufacturers, meanwhile, continue to focus on vertical integration and module technology, where their target markets still deliver reliable returns without the intensity of Chinese competition.

Is this a durable structural shift, or a response to temporary conditions? And what does it mean for the competitive dynamics of the global storage market? Read our view in the full report.

Also in 'Global cleantech supply chain: mid-year review 2026'...

Sodium-ion batteries are approaching commercial scale, with CATL securing over 60 GWh of supply agreements and price parity with LFP batteries expected by 2028–2029. What are the implications for battery economics and procurement strategies?

Nuclear development in Asia is accelerating rapidly, with the region's fleet surpassing North America's for the first time and over 10 GW of new capacity expected in 2026 alone. How is this reshaping the region's energy security calculus?

And how is the Middle East conflict affecting wind turbine costs, Chinese OEM export volumes and the pace of energy storage deployment across emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa?

To read our full analysis of these themes and their global impact, fill in the form on this page to download your complimentary copy of the full mid-year cleantech supply chain report.