The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) has officially released its comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) standard. Based on established international benchmarks, this standard serves as a vital tool for companies operating within the solar value chain to validate their commitment to ESG principles at production facilities.
The SSI ESG standard encompasses a wide spectrum of sustainability requirements, focusing on environmental, social, and governance aspects for sites engaged in the manufacturing of critical solar components, including polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other related components. Key principles embedded within the SSI ESG standard encompass governance and business ethics, environmental considerations such as greenhouse gas emissions, water and waste management, and human and labor rights. Each category will undergo meticulous evaluation.
SolarPower Europe and Solar Energy UK, the architects behind the SSI, revealed that this new standard follows extensive pilot testing conducted at 11 sites in China, Germany, and Norway. Additionally, it incorporates feedback from a thorough public consultation on the evaluation criteria established by the SSI.
The conclusions drawn from the draft SSI ESG standard are fourfold. Firstly, both associations underscored the success of the collaborative approach adopted by the SSI, facilitating cooperation between buyers and suppliers of solar PV modules. Participants in the pilot program expressed appreciation for the opportunity to enhance their ESG expertise.
Secondly, the finalized SSI ESG standard reinforces critical areas, emphasizing the importance of mechanisms for addressing grievances, responsible sourcing requirements, working hours, and workplace emergency preparedness.
The third key observation centers on the need for enhanced supply chain transparency within the solar sector. As part of a continual improvement process, the SSI plans to introduce a dedicated supply chain traceability standard in 2024. Currently, the SSI certifies production sites in the solar supply chain. However, with the impending publication of the supply chain traceability standard next year, the SSI will gain the capability to certify the precise interconnections among production sites, creating what is referred to as the “chain of custody.”
Lastly, the formal recognition of industry assurance schemes in legislation is identified as pivotal to driving market adoption of the SSI and bolstering the ESG credentials of the solar sector's supply chain.
Looking ahead, independent assessors will play a crucial role in certifying the ESG performance of solar production sites, ensuring adherence to the rigorous SSI ESG standard.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, lauded the significance of the new SSI ESG Standard, stating, “The new SSI ESG Standard is a true landmark for the solar PV industry. We now have an effective, solar-specific compass to guide our supply chain sustainability journey.” Hemetsberger also emphasized the importance of formal recognition for initiatives like the SSI in upcoming EU legislation to support the solar sector's role in advancing Europe's sustainability commitments.
