The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in the United States has developed a tool to increase supply chain transparency. The tool is likely to help ensure that all solar components are made ethically throughout the solar value chain. As manufacturers begin using the traceability protocol, it will be regularly reviewed and updated to improve its usability and effectiveness, the association stressed.
Additionally, SEIA also announced a comprehensive update to its solar commitment, which defines common labour, health and safety, environmental, and ethical standards and expectations for solar companies. These updates specify an expansive list of topics, including guidance on workplace safety and ethical labour practices.
As per the U.S. Solar Market Insight 2020 Year-in-Review report released by SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. solar industry grew 43 per cent and installed a record 19.2 GW of capacity in 2020. Given a rapidly growing solar market, there is a need to enforce ethical labour practices and compliance norms to ensure the smooth functioning of the sector.
In February 2020, officials of several renewable energy companies requested the United States Government to roll back an earlier increased tariff on solar panels to foster the solar industry’s progress in the country. SEIA was established in 1974 and is the national non-profit trade association of the solar-energy industry in the United States. In 2019, the group reported at least 1,000 member companies. The association also works with strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power.