EPEAT Ecolabel

Building a Better Solar Supply Chain

EPEAT for Solar is a comprehensive sustainability and low carbon PV ecolabel to facilitate solar purchasing. Based on transparent ESG criteria with rigorous third party verification, EPEAT for Solar lets buyers simplify procurement of sustainably manufactured, low carbon footprint modules, reduce their scope 3 carbon emissions and encourage more domestic PV manufacturing. You can learn more about EPEAT for Solar from the Global Electronics Council by reading their announcement. You can find more details at globalelectronicscouncil.org/solar and by reading our blog at the link below.

A Brief History of EPEAT

EPEAT was established in 2006 by the Global Electronics Council to provide tools for the sustainable purchasing of electronics products. EPEAT has facilitated billions in sustainable purchasing globally, and is widely used by governments and private sector buyers. EPEAT ESG criteria for PV modules and inverters are based on the NSF 457 standard, and carbon footprint criteria were added in 2023.

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Criteria & Benefits

The Low Carbon Supply Chain

PV manufacturing is growing rapidly outside of China, including in the US.

The Ultra Low Carbon Solar supply chain is grounded in ~60GW of ex-China low carbon polysilicon and CdTe capacity, both of which are expanding.

Wafer, cell and module capacity is growing rapidly in the US and elsewhere. See our map for a complete picture of the growing ex-China solar supply chain. Module producers are working to register their solar products with EPEAT in 2023.

Why Specify Ultra Low Carbon EPEAT for PV Modules?

For Manufacturers

Leadership Positioning on low embodied carbon products critical to effective Scope 3 emissions reductions.

Product Design Criteria to address climate change and labor issues that are a common focus of most ESG and CSR initiatives and reporting.

Awareness Among Institutional Purchasers who stipulate EPEAT-registered products in contracts.

U.S. EPA Recommendations of Standards and Ecolabels include EPEAT-registered photovoltaic modules.

For Purchasers

Photovoltaic Modules with Low Embodied Carbon critical to any Scope 3 emissions reduction effort.

Global Online Registry to simplify searches for products verified as meeting EPEAT Criteria while also satisfying user specification requirements.

Procurement Resources including training and sample contract language to aid sustainable procurement efforts.

Reduced Supply Chain Impacts up and down the product life cycle.

News

Three Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Module Manufacturers Are Pursuing EPEAT Ecolabel in 2023

June 21st, 2023

Specifying EPEAT Panels Sends Signal to Entire Solar Supply Chain to Produce Sustainably-Made, Low-Carbon Products for Developers and Buyers.

April 28th, 2023

We recently took a look at the history and broad structure of the EPEAT ecolabel. Let’s dig into EPEAT for PV modules and inverters.

EPEAT Eco Label - The History

April 11th, 2023

You have been hearing about the EPEAT for PV ecolabel with ultra low carbon footprint criteria. Let’s dig into EPEAT a little bit. Subsequent pieces will dive into the details, but let’s look at the overall process first.

Global Electronics Council (GEC) Announces Initiative To Advance Decarbonization of Solar Panel Production

March 21st, 2023

EPEAT is the First Global Ecolabel to Assess Embodied Carbon in Photovoltaics

EPEAT^™ For Solar Ecolabel
A Demand Signal For Better Solar

Building a Better Solar Supply Chain

A Brief History of EPEAT

Criteria & Benefits

Summary of EPEAT Criteria for PV Modules and Inverters

Deep Dive EPEAT Criteria for PV Modules and Inverters

Benefits to PV Buyers

Benefits to PV Manufacturers

The Low Carbon Supply Chain