News - TÜV Rheinland becomes the evaluation agency for the photovoltaic sustainability initiative.

TÜV Rheinland becomes the evaluation agency for the photovoltaic sustainability initiative.

Recently, the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) recognized TÜV Rheinland. It’s an independent testing and certification organization. SSI named it one of the first assessment organizations. This boosts TÜV Rheinland’s services to promote sustainability in the solar industry.

TÜV Rheinland will assess the factories of Solar Stewardship Initiative members. This is to ensure compliance with the SSI’s ESG standards. This standard covers three key areas: governance, ethics, and rights. They are: business, environmental, and labor rights.

Jin Gyeong, general manager of sustainable services at TV Rheinland Greater China, said:

“We must take this step to promote the solar industry’s growth.” A reliable, expert evaluation is key to the supply chain guarantee system. We are happy to be one of the first evaluation agencies. We look forward to working with SSI. Together, we will promote a more responsible, transparent, and sustainable photovoltaic industry. ”

SSI was jointly started by SolarPower Europe and Solar Energy UK in March 2021. It aims to promote the sustainable growth of the global photovoltaic value chain. Over 30 photovoltaic groups have backed SSI since its founding. The IFC, a World Bank member, and the EIB have recognized it.

Photovoltaic Sustainability Initiative (SSI) ESG Standard

The Photovoltaic Sustainability Initiative ESG Standard is the only sustainable supply chain solution. It is also comprehensive. Key stakeholders in the photovoltaic industry back it. The standard checks if solar companies meet sustainability and ESG standards. It strives to make them conduct business with accountability and openness. Third-party assessors, certified by SSI, perform these assessments.

SSI member companies are required to complete the above assessments within 12 months. These assessments are site-level. They cover activities controlled by the same management team in the same area. TÜV Rheinland will assess using set standards and methods. This includes unsupervised worker interviews, site inspections, and document reviews. They will then issue an assessment report. SSI will verify the assessment report and the organization’s recommendations. It will then award the site a bronze, silver, or gold level, with gold being the highest.

TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in PV testing, has 35 years in the photovoltaic industry. Their work covers testing and certifying PV modules, components, and energy storage systems. They also test the quality, safety, and performance of power plants. Also, TÜV Rheinland knows that sustainable development isn’t just the enterprise’s job. It requires the whole value chain to be deeply involved. To this end, TÜV Rheinland has built sustainable supply chain management services. They help firms set up and maintain a responsible supply chain. We provide four specific services. They are: 1. supplier sustainability assessment; 2. supply chain risk management; 3. supplier capacity building; 4. sustainable procurement strategy formulation.