A new certification aimed at spurring low-carbon solar production is already attracting some of the industry's leading manufacturers.
Manufacturers pursuing the Global Electronics Council's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment (EPEAT) label include Qcells, Solarge, and First Solar, which was the first solar manufacturer to have its product included in the launch of the EPEAT Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters category in 2020, and is now working to demonstrate that they meet the new EPEAT carbon footprint criteria as well.
The EPEAT for Solar ecolabel aims to demonstrate each company’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing as well as low-carbon supply chains and production technologies.
The Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance said more of its members intend to pursue the solar ecolabel next year, including polysilicon producers Hemlock Semiconductor, REC Silicon, and Wacker Chemie; silicon wafer producers Norsun and Norwegian Crystals; and frame and glass producers Origami Solar and CPS Glass.
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EPEAT-compliant PV panels are expected to be listed in the EPEAT for Solar registry in the second half of 2023, with additional panels being added over time.
The breadth and rigor of the EPEAT for Solar life-cycle-based criteria, combined with third-party verification requirements, assures buyers that they can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable supply chains and reduced Scope 3 emissions.
Most of the world's solar modules are produced in Southeast Asia and China, where the carbon intensity of crystalline silicon module production is more than twice that of a module manufactured in the U.S., according to the International Energy Agency.
