Two solar panel brands have today achieved the strict sustainability criteria of the Global Electronics Council (GEC), making them a reality EPEAT registered products. Qcells’ Q.TRON and Q.PEAK DUO crystalline silicon module lines and First Solar’s Series 6 Plus and Series 7 TR1 cadmium-telluride thin-film panels are the first in the industry to achieve the EPEAT designation.
EPEAT is a globally recognized eco-label that includes independent validation and allows the easy identification of environmentally friendly products from socially responsible companies. EPEAT focuses on the entire life cycle of a product, including the management of substances in the product, energy and water use in production, product packaging, end-of-life recycling, corporate responsibility and human rights. By participating in this registry, customers can make informed decisions and choose products that help them achieve their own ESG objectives.
Both Qcells and First Solar’s panel additions to the EPEAT registry activate it Federal Takeover Regulation (FAR) – the first time for solar panels – which according to a EPA rule, requires the federal government to purchase products that meet key sustainability requirements when three or more EPEAT-certified products from two or more manufacturers are available in a single category. In 2021 the The Biden administration has announced plans to electrify federal buildings and fleets by 2050. EPEAT will now direct billions of dollars in federal government purchasing power toward sustainably produced solar energy manufactured by leaders in the domestic solar industry.
“After more than two years of striving to make more sustainable solar panels, we are proud to have achieved this enormous achievement,” said Kelly Weger, Senior Director of Sustainability at Qcells. “The EPEAT ecolabel will make it easy for customers who value transparency and sustainability to find our products and work with us. In addition to commercial and private customers, this now also means our UNITED STATES-assembled and sustainably made solar products will help the federal government achieve its climate goals. Overall, customers large and small now have a tool to help them achieve their sustainability goals faster while supporting American jobs.”
The First Solar panels are also the first to achieve the EPEAT Climate+ designation. Thanks to EPEAT Climate+, EPEAT is the only global ecolabel that addresses greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the different stages of solar panel production, and products that receive this designation must meet the ultra-low carbon threshold of ≤400 kg CO2e/kWp. EPEAT Climate+ helps buyers quickly identify technology products designed and manufactured with climate change mitigation in mind, helping them reduce scope 3 emissions from solar installations.
“As we add another differentiator that sets our technology apart from the competition, we are reminded that not all solar is created equal and embodied carbon remains a challenge for the solar industry,” said Samantha Sloan, VP Policy, Sustainability and Marketing. , First solar energy. “With EPEAT Climate+, our customers now benefit from a global standard that allows them to confidently purchase solar panels that reduce their Scope 3 emissions and are produced responsibly. We encourage other manufacturers to embrace this global validation standard and contribute to efforts to strengthen our industry’s license to operate.”
