The Middle Kingdom has specialized in the production of photovoltaics. As much as 86 percent 92% of the world's production of PV modules is produced there. cells with a capacity of over 600 GW per year. For comparison, all panels operating in Poland had a total capacity of 24.8 GW at the end of 2025 according to ARE data.
At the same time, there is a boom in the construction of data centers in the world, and mainly in the USA. Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on this, and the operation of such centers requires huge amounts of electricity. Elon Musk sensed this trend. Tesla is to invest in the production of panels and import the machines from China.
Tesla plans to purchase equipment worth $2.9 billion. from Chinese suppliers, including from Suzhou Maxwell Technologies. The equipment is to be used to produce solar panels and cells, and its deliveries are expected to be completed before autumn this year, Reuters reports based on information from two sources familiar with the matter.
Elon Musk said in January that solar energy could meet all of the United States' electricity demand — including the ever-increasing demand from a growing number of data centers. Job postings on Tesla's website said the company plans to deploy 100 GW of resource-based solar energy production in America by the end of 2028.
Chinese suppliers key to the project implementation
The U.S. solar market is protected by tariffs that limit imports of cheaper panels and cells from China and Southeast Asia. But solar panel production equipment was excluded from these dutieswhich allows American manufacturers to develop their own factories. Hence the idea to buy machines, not panels.
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Suzhou Maxwell Technologies, the largest manufacturer of screen printing equipment used in the production of solar cells, is one of the main candidates for an equipment supplier. According to Reuters, the company is currently seeking export approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
Other potential companies involved in the project include Shenzhen SC New Energy Technology and Laplace Renewable Energy. According to Reuters sources, some equipment requires export approval, but it is not yet clear how many devices will be subject to this requirement or how long it will take to obtain approvals.
Supplies of equipment are to go mainly to Texas, where the construction of a solar power plant is planned. This region has ideal conditions for photovoltaics to be effective. This energy has primarily power Tesla plants, but some of it will also be used to power SpaceX satellites. Elon Musk wants his own independent energy resources for his ventures.
Record demand for electricity in the US
According to data from the Energy Information Agency, U.S. energy consumption reaches record high in 2025. and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
In 2025, a record 4.43 thousand were produced in the United States. TWh, of which only less than 9 percent (385 TWh) came from solar energy. Most electricity in the USA is obtained from gas power plants (40%), coal and nuclear power plants (17% each), and wind power plants (10%). Photovoltaics is in fifth place.
