Purpose

The Solar Scorecard evaluates and ranks solar manufacturers with the goal to improve industry-

wide transparency and accountability, and to set high standards for environmental sustainability.

The solar energy industry has grown 30-fold since 2010 when the first Solar Score Card was

published by our predecessor organization Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC). Solar

installations are projected to quadruple by the end of this decade; moreover, passage of the US

federal government’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 supports historic levels of public funding

for photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy sources.

SVTC (1982-2022) envisioned a toxin-free future, where each new generation of technical

improvements in electronic products would include parallel and proportionate advances in social

and environmental justice. The Solar Scorecard Project maintains SVTC’s commitment to

environmental sustainability and clean production, improved health, and democratic decision-

making for communities and workers most affected by the high-tech revolution.

It’s not too late for  PV to fulfill the promise of a safe and sustainable alternative

to fossil fuels. But we must act now to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in PV, protect

workers, reduce waste, and develop responsible circular systems of material use throughout the

global PV supply chain.

The Solar Scorecard evaluates solar manufacturers’ performance based on their environmental

programs and practices, and serves as a resource for consumers, institutional purchasers,

investors, and anyone who wants to purchase photovoltaic modules from responsible products

stewards. The Solar Scorecard’s mission is to ensure that the solar energy industry’s product

manufacturing systems and global supply chains are safe and sustainable for workers,

communities, and the environment.

The Solar Scorecard Project envisions a solar energy industry that integrates the following 

sustainability principles into its core business practices:

· Human Rights and Environmental Justice Principles. Provide meaningful involvement

of marginalized groups and communities in decision-meaning processes, and embed human

rights, worker rights and the values of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

into solar energy manufacturing systems, products, and services.

· Circularity. Transition to a circular manufacturing system that reuses recyclable materials,

chemicals, and natural resources while eliminating waste and pollution throughout the solar

products lifecycle.

· Transparency. Promote corporate transparency through public disclosure. Provide accessible,

accurate, and verifiable information about the business operations and services’ impacts on

communities, workers, resources, and the natural environment.

With the support of the Sustainable Systems Research Foundation, the Solar Scorecard team is

identifying key solar energy industry management interventions that are critical to solving

complex environmental problems that harm communities, confound governments, and defy a

singular political or technical fix. The Solar Scorecard Project’s work is guided by the Principles

of Environmental Justices developed by the 1991 First National People of Color

Environmental Leadership Summit.
   

What we do today sets the trajectory for the next 50 years. For that reason, the Solar Scorecard is setting 2030 goals and benchmarking solar manufacturers’ progress toward those goals. We are also changing our scoring system to focus on progress solar manufacturers make toward key performance indicators, rather than emphasize absolute scores of 0-100. We will also celebrate manufacturers who set and achieve their own ambitious goals, as well as manufacturers who willingly share innovative new programs and technologies and collaborate with stakeholders to solve problems.

Solar Scorecard Hazardous Chemical Use and Reduction

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPI)

EPEAT Certification. Solar companies certify at least one of their products to EPEAT

(NSF 457-2019) bronze level by 2025. All products introduced to market after 2023 should

be EPEAT certified.

Commitment to 2030 Chemical Reduction Goals. Companies utilize the Chemical

Footprint Project (CFP) to assess their chemical use and to publicly set 2030 goals for reducing

hazardous chemicals in their manufacturing systems and products.

Chemical Management Policy. By 2027, companies should have a chemical management

policy that utilizes CFP framework and metrics for measuring progress. The company should

publicly share information on their websites about their policy toward use of safer

substitution, timelines for reducing hazardous chemicals and verification process.

Reduction of worker exposure to hazardous chemicals. Companies commit to reducing

worker exposure to toxic chemicals in the supply chain by participating in the Clean

Electronics Production Network’s (CEPN) Toward Zero Exposure program (TZE), or

adopting a comparable third party verified program aligned with TZE program criteria, metrics

and performance standards.

Process Chemical Data Collection and Management Systems. Companies utilize a CEPN

process chemical data collection digital tool (PCDC) or adopt their own transparent digital

tool(s) capable of collecting, managing, and tracking process chemical data, documenting

occupational exposures, and providing third party verified reporting throughout the supply

chain.

Investigate and take action to mitigate adverse impacts of legacy (chemical and

biological) pollution on marginalized and vulnerable communities located in regions where

the manufacturing facilities operate.

We need everyone -- all solar manufacturers, solar customers, investors, government agencies,

workers and other stakeholders -- on board, together, and informed about the solar energy industry’s

sustainability practices in order to successfully avert the risk of a looming environmental crisis in the

solar energy industry. The public requires accurate, clear, easily accessible and verified information on

which to base decisions. Accordingly, the Solar Scorecard’s evaluation and ranking system will rely on

information the solar company makes publicly available on their websites.

Which Manufacturers’ Websites Will the Solar Scorecard evaluate?

Using the Solar Scorecard questionnaire survey, we evaluate solar manufacturers that represent 80% of the market share based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) data as well as publicly available trade industry market research.

The Solar Scorecard will also score companies who fall into the following categories.

• Companies who have been previously scored by the SVTC Solar Scorecard.
•  Companies with manufacturing facilities in the US
•  Leadership Startups, smaller and midsize companies who request to be included in the Solar Scorecard

Who are the solar manufacturers representing the top 80 percent of shipments, according to NREL and

solar trade industry reports? 

• Tongwei
• Jinko Solar
• Aiko
• Trina Solar
• Runergy
• LONGi
• Solar Space
• JA Solar
• Canadian Solar
• Risen Energy
• Astronergy
• First Solar
• Hanwha Q Cells
•  Suntech

When will we evaluate and score the solar manufactures websites?

Using the Solar Scorecard preliminary Chemical Use and Reduction questionnaire survey, the Solar

Scorecard team will  evaluate solar manufacturers (80% of shipments) websites March 2023 to establish a baseline performance.

Solar Scorecard 2023 Release Schedule

By mid-summer, the Solar Scorecard Project and partners hope to engage directly in dialogue

with solar manufacturers to encourage leadership to adopt our sustainability programs and

environmental criteria.

• May 8 - June 1, 2023: The Solar Scorecard Team officially scores solar manufacturers websites

based on the Chemical Use and Reduction survey questionnaire.

• June 15, 2023: Publication of scores and ranking for Chemical Use and Reduction.

• July 2023: The Scorecard's Supply Chain Due Diligence survey questionnaire aims to establish a solar

industry baseline for performance on supply chain due diligence.

• July–August 2023: The Solar Scorecard and partners engage in dialogue with solar

manufacturers and encourage leadership to adopt our sustainability programs and criteria.

• September 1-21, 2023: The Solar Scorecard team officially scores solar manufacturers’ websites

based on the Supply Chain Due Diligence survey findings.

• October 2023: Publication of scores and ranking for Supply Chain Due Diligence Section of the Solar Scorecard.

• December 2023: The Decent Work and Sustainable Economic Growth and Development

survey questionnaire aims to establish a solar industry baseline for worker well-being and other

criteria.

• 2024: The Solar Scorecard will add the following scoring sections: Energy Use, Extended Producer Responsibility/Mining,  Water Use, Batteries and components.