April 30, 2021

SolarPower Europe yesterday released the Solar Sustainability Best Practices Benchmark Report, outlining the steps and procedures companies within the solar value chain should follow. Clean Energy Associates, led by CEA’s VP, Technology, Paul Wormser, contributed to the sustainability report through our partnership with SolarPower Europe and the SolarPower Europe Sustainability Workstream.

Benchmark Forward

“This report, stemming from the collaboration of industry experts in the SolarPower Europe Sustainability Workstream, presents the results of sustainability case studies and best practices along the solar value chain. Following the publication of the industry’s first sustainability leadership standard for photovoltaic modules and inverters in 2019 and its inclusion into the EPEAT registry for sustainable electronics, as well as the ongoing regulatory discussions around Ecodesign and Energy Labeling in the European Union, the report takes a closer look at material sustainability and ESG topics in the PV value chain and how the European and international PV industry is addressing them. 

This study aims to provide an overview on sectorial best practices, which fill the sometimes abstract frameworks of standards with life and demonstrate that the industry is continuously evaluating and improving approaches to sustainability. This work would not have been possible without the passionate support from the workstream members and other contributors over the last couple of months – starting off beginning of the year with a materiality evaluation and following through with a comprehensive portray of case studies and best practices, addressing those topics. 

The industry is approaching a critical inflection point, growing into the role of being one of the major pillars of a renewable-based energy system, with Terawatt scale deployment over the next couple of years. With that role comes responsibility and accountability for responsible and sustainable approaches along the environmental, social and economic impacts of the technology. This report presents a first deeper view into currently established practices and should motivate value chain partners to benchmark themselves, with a view to improve and ensure responsibility, transparency and accountability for the sustainability performance of the technology.”

The SPE Solar Sustainability Best Practices Benchmark Report covers a wide range of topics including:

•  Carbon footprints

• Circularity

• Sustainable Supply Chains

• Biodiversity in Large Scale Solar

• Planning and Designing for Public Acceptance

• Human Rights

• Supply Chain Transparency

Learn more about SolarPower Europe

Learn about Clean Energy Associates Solar Supply Chain Traceability Audit