GEC is launching a criteria revision process for its EPEAT® Photovoltaic Module and Inverter (PVMI) product category. The first step in the criteria revision process is to prepare State of Sustainability Research that identifies the most significant life cycle sustainability impacts, best practices to mitigate the impacts, and provide recommendations for criteria revisions that will maintain the relevance and leadership of the EPEAT ecolabel. The draft State of Sustainability Research will be available for public consultation in Fall 2024. Following release of the final State of Sustainability Research report, GEC will convene a Technical Committee in early 2025 to consider proposed revisions. A schedule for implementing revised criteria will be developed in consultation with stakeholders.
GEC invites interested stakeholders to submit data to assist GEC in the preparation of the State of Sustainability Research, including, but not limited to:
- New or updated data on the life cycle impacts of photovoltaic module (PV) and inverters in 4 sustainability topics: climate/greenhouse gas emissions, material use and circularity, chemicals, and responsible supply chains. We welcome submissions of data, reports and/or citations to recently published papers and reports.
- Evolution of or new best practices and opportunities to reduce identified impacts through the application of controls, standards, programs and material choices. Where available, please include data or documentation that the best practice has a proven record of impact reduction.
- Improvements in PV life expectancy, trends in performance warranties and PV re-use potential.
- Advancements in end-of-life management, recycling technologies and material recovery for PV modules.
- New international standards and requirements for PV modules and inverters that represent leadership.
- Proposals to strengthen existing NSF 457 criteria, modify Ultra-low Carbon Solar criteria or remove criteria, and recommendations for new performance criteria, along with the rationale for the changes or additions. We encourage submission of proposed text for new criteria.
- Identification of new PV technologies or form factors to consider when updating EPEAT criteria.
Stakeholders should submit information to criteria@gec.org no later than September 30, 2024 for consideration in the State of Sustainability Research. Please include the source of the information; GEC prefers to cite publicly available information. The GEC criteria development team is also happy to schedule one-on-one calls with interested stakeholders, just send an email to criteria@gec.org for scheduling.
