Great news about the value of China solar cells. Buying them offers a great return on investment in term of both energy cost and lower pollution.

The progress in solar cell continuous improvement in China is exceptional. It mirrors US semiconductor continuous improvements in the past 50 years. Should the US and EU invest to set up a second source (like Boeing and Airbus) in case China implodes?

Or like TSMC and Intel healthy competition and hedge against China invasion of Taiwan.

Same question for Batteries.

Personally I would put Battery technology at a higher priority. But both need to be healthy.

A great example is China threatening to cut off graphite used for battery anodes. The US has 6 alternatives of Si nano particles in various stages of both pilot and full production. Most benefited from US investment.

Republicans have voted against strategic investment by the U.S. These investments offer a proven return on the investment. A simple example. Once EV replace gasoline and diesel with electric power and the US spends $540 billion less each year on fuel for light vehicles and heavy trucks, less oil consumption means less profit for Russian and Middle East Terrorists, the US fuel prices and supply are more stable.

What investment accelerated EV growth? One example, a loan to Tesla from the US government. That loan was paid back. Plus the time to EV ramping up was likely moved up by 10 years as Tesla market share growth pressures the auto industry to accelerate EV development and production.