IFC/World Bank Principal Risk Officer Guido Agostinelli outlined the IFC Performance Standards as the global benchmark for managing environmental and social risks in solar projects. He emphasized that sustainability is essential for responsible solar financing and a key to long-term value for communities, investors, and the planet. Agostinelli urged developers to apply the “avoid, minimize, compensate” hierarchy, conduct rigorous due diligence on E&S risks, and ensure transparent, traceable supply chains.
Janett Schmelzer, Head of R&D at SOLAR MATERIALS, highlighted that the number of end-of-life PV modules is expected to increase 20-fold by 2030, marking the first major recycling wave. While Europe leads with comprehensive regulations, Asia’s fast-growing recycling sector still prioritizes volume over material purity. Schmelzer emphasized the need to improve silicon purity for reuse in high-efficiency cells. SOLAR MATERIALS expects to expand its annual recycling capacity from 7,000 to 35,000 tonnes by 2026, opening its first site in Italy, which she says will set a benchmark for Europe.
Martín Behar, Director of Research & Environment at Spanish Solar Photovoltaic Association (UNEF) in Spain, shared that 5.6 GW of solar plants have earned UNEF’s Environmental Seal of Excellence, which recognizes projects with long-term positive impact and is open to all developers. He highlighted socioeconomic benefits, such as job creation, higher property values, and local tax growth, and noted that studies show solar sites also support birdlife, including protected species. UNEF has now introduced a similar Seal of Excellence for battery storage, with added safety criteria.
Founder & Managing Consultant of Sunzest Solar, and ESG Bankability and Reliability Contributor at ETIP PV, Marcello Passaro urged the solar industry to move beyond compliance checklists and focus on deeper ESG practices. He emphasized the need for independent biodiversity monitoring, reuse-before-recycle approaches, and full-system carbon impact reporting. He noted that PFAS restrictions, cybersecurity oversight, and the EU’s forced-labor laws are reshaping ESG priorities and driving greater accountability across the solar sector.
Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) CEO Rachel Owens highlighted that SSI members now account for 70% of global solar module manufacturing, totaling around 100 GW. The initiative is moving further upstream, bringing in additional buyers and upstream actors. SSI’s standards – covering governance, business ethics, human rights, and labor rights – align with international and EU regulations, with 12 certified sites representing over 95 GW of module capacity. By early 2026, SSI plans to roll out its first Supply Chain Traceability Standard certifications, covering the full silicon-to-module value chain.
Rocky Li, Trinasolar’s Global Product Manager, shared how the company delivers industry-leading low-carbon solutions for modules and trackers worldwide. The company's 5-pillar strategy – high-efficiency i-TOPCon cells, advanced trackers, green manufacturing, vertical integration, and digital supply chain management – ensures fully traceable, sustainable products. With certified carbon footprints already in production, Li said these solutions and compliance with global standards help its customers secure projects and financing. This provides them with a competitive edge through transparency and reduced lifecycle emissions.
The solar sector faces both risks and gains tied to climate adaptation – changes in weather or solar irradiation can impact yields and long-term asset value, but they can also create growth prospects, notes Jochen Hauff, Founder of Think Resiliency and Senior Advisor on Agrivoltaics with Global Solar Council, in his keynote. Uncertainties are here to stay, but a focus on resiliency can open new opportunities. Importantly, resiliency complements sustainability rather than replacing it, he stresses, offering an extra lens for designing a more robust, future-ready solar industry.
And we are live! TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela kicks off the 3rd edition of Solar & Sustainability 2025 Conference. He says ESG and sustainability aren’t just buzzwords, but our responsibility as an industry. The solar industry has made progress. From only 4 out of the top 10 PV manufacturers publishing annual Sustainability reports in 2021, now all top 10 publish them – real change is happening, but we can do more beyond clean energy. From production practices to certifications, the tools are there, but how to navigate them, we learn today!
Stay tuned for an engaging panel discussion to wrap up the conference as TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela brings together industry leaders to unpack ESG in solar – at a time when the global PV sector faces overcapacity, record-low prices, and unpredictable market trends. Joining him on the panel are Guido Agostinelli from IFC/World Bank, Jochen Hauff from Global Solar Council, and Lin Sun from JinkoSolar.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up today – a keynote on sustainability and resiliency across the PV value chain, followed by presentations on industry efforts toward low-carbon solutions, recycling, traceability, ESG, certification, and financing led by top experts.
We’re about to get started! Welcome to another exciting TaiyangNews event. In just a few minutes, the 3rd edition of the TaiyangNews Solar & Sustainability 2025 Virtual Conference will go live – bringing together key industry voices to discuss sustainable practices in the PV sector. Have you signed up yet? Register here!