Solar supply chain traceability standard launched

The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) has published its solar supply chain traceability standard for tracing silicon – and other semiconducting materials – through the supply chain.

The supply chain traceability standard, considered a major milestone for the Solar Stewardship Initiative in its mission to create end-to-end transparency and promote responsible practices across the solar value chain, covers the entire chain from quartzite mining to solar module production.

Its objective is to enable an unbroken chain of custody that tracks the journey of materials at every stage and guarantees that certified materials remain distinct from non-certified ones to thereby reinforce the integrity of solar products.

“The supply chain traceability standard sets a new bar for end-to-end supply chain accountability in the solar sector,” says Alexia Ruvoletto, head of the SSI Secretariat.

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“By establishing a clear, verifiable chain of custody for materials, it lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and ethical solar industry. With this new standard, the SSI empowers solar companies to take their transparency efforts to the next level, ensuring that the materials powering the clean energy transition meet the highest standards of integrity.”

The standard, which complements the SSI’s earlier environmental, social and governance (ESG) standard, was developed following a public multi-stakeholder consultation involving over 20 organisations, in order to ensure that it is both rigorous and practical in addressing real-world challenges in supply chain traceability.

The standard was tested through extensive pilot assessments conducted in 14 sites across various supply chain segments from modules to polysilicon.

Certification against the standard will begin in 2025, with continuous improvement targets for supply chain penetration and market coverage to be set for the following years.

The standard makes clear that site certification remains impossible in regions inaccessible to unsupervised assessment.

Additionally, the standard offers clearer guidance to ensure that management systems are adequately resourced to effectively implement traceability requirements.

With the standard, businesses should be supported in meeting regulatory requirements, including the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

The SSI was established by SolarPower Europe and Solar Energy UK as part of an initiative to promote sustainable production in the solar value chain and counts backing from over 40 organisations active in the sector.