Solar Purchasers and Policy Makers
EPEAT®, the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics, helps government agencies, the private sector, educational institutions, and other organizations find and procure technology products that meet rigorous sustainability criteria.
The EPEAT Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters (PVMI) Criteria, as well as its accompanying Ultra Low Carbon Solar Criteria for solar modules, offer several unique opportunities for manufacturers and their customers.
Opportunities for Purchasers
Photovoltaic Modules with Low Embodied Carbon
Purchasing products with low embodied carbon is critical to cutting Scope 3 emissions. While solar installations are net zero in their generation of electricity, supply chain greenhouse gas emissions vary greatly. Purchasing low-carbon solar panels is critical to maximizing the benefits of renewable energy investments.
Free Global Online Registry
The online EPEAT Registry simplifies searches for products verified as meeting EPEAT Criteria while also satisfying unique user product specification requirements.
Free Procurement Resources
EPEAT collaborates with groups such as the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) to create materials designed to help make new and existing sustainable procurement efforts more effective. These materials include training, sample contract language, and more.
Reduced Supply Chain Impacts
EPEAT Criteria address impacts from material mining to design and manufacture, as well as product disposal and recycling. The Criteria require manufacturers and their supply chains to maintain safe workplaces and fair labor practices while also reducing harmful environmental effects.
Sustainable Leadership
Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability by supporting products that lessen harmful impacts on people and the planet. Purchasing EPEAT-registered products is a tangible display of an organization’s values.
EPEAT SOLAR MODULAR CARBON THRESHOLDS
While solar modules are known for their carbon-free electricity generation, many are manufactured in ways that limit their overall effectiveness at emissions reduction. Currently, most solar modules can trace 50% to 80% or more of their embodied carbon to these initial steps in their product supply chains. As the energy sector and its clients seek to reduce Scope 3 emissions, they must address the embodied carbon of solar energy.
EPEAT is the only global ecolabel to tackle the often-overlooked issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during solar module production, enabling purchasers, developers and investors to lower their overall carbon footprint for this key part of the renewable energy infrastructure. In addition to the required PVMI criteria, solar modules must also meet or surpass a required low-carbon threshold, which can be found in the EPEAT Ultra Low Carbon Threshold criteria. This second set of criteria do not apply to solar inverters.
This second set of solar module criteria also contains a lower optional carbon threshold manufactures can meet.
630
kg CO₂e /kWp
Required: Low Carbon Solar
Solar Modules must to meet this threshold in order to become EPEAT registered.
400
kg CO₂e /kWp
Optional: Ultra-Low Carbon Solar
Solar Modules that meet this threshold qualify for the EPEAT Climate+ ™ product designation.
EPEAT CLIMATE+™
EPEAT Climate+™ is a product designation that helps electronics purchasers quickly find products verified to have met all required EPEAT Climate Criteria. Products meeting these criteria are ideal for organizations seeking to track and achieve climate impact goals related to their procurement.
Solar Modules registered with the Climate+ designation have met the ultra low carbon threshold, making them leaders among the low carbon solar modules available on the EPEAT Registry. Modules are given special recognition among other industry-leading electronics including computers & displays, imaging equipment, mobile phones, televisions, and servers.
GEC Climate+ Pledge
The GEC Climate+ Pledge seeks to harness the purchasing power of organizations committed to tracking and reducing their carbon footprint associated with electronic products. The pledge brings together the leadership and influence of these organizations to reduce the climate impacts of electronic products. By signing this pledge, participants become integral members of a thriving community of climate leaders and advocates.
Understanding that organizations contribute in different ways, this pledge will consist of two primary groups of signatories: EPEAT Climate+ Purchasing Leaders and EPEAT Climate+ Purchasing Advocates. Purchasing Leaders are organizations committed to purchasing Climate+ Products, while Purchasing Advocates are Organizations and Individuals Advocating and Promoting EPEAT Climate+ Products.
How Purchasers Can Utilize EPEAT in Procurement
The simplest way to enjoy the benefits of EPEAT is to use the online Registry to find solar panels for upcoming projects. Additionally, purchasers can add language to purchasing policies, RFPs, contracts, and tenders that require or even gives preference to products that appear on the EPEAT registry.
Developing and registering products that meet EPEAT’s Criteria is an investment of both money and time for manufacturers. Those that purchase solar panels directly or are investing in a solar installation, can inform their manufacturers or developer of their preference for EPEAT-registered solar panels. In addition, purchasers may also share any carbon reduction targets to help manufacturers and developers understand their needs in the greatest detail.
Please reach out to GEC directly at info@gec.org for questions about EPEAT for purchasers.
