The 3rd edition of the TaiyangNews Solar & Sustainability Conference on October 9, 2025, delved into the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability practices of the solar PV industry, right from sourcing of the raw material to deployment.
Moderated by TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela, the panel discussion during the event revolved around ESG in solar during times of overcapacities, record low prices, and rapidly changing market environments. The panel comprised IFC/World Bank Principal Risk Officer Guido Agostinelli, Founder Think Resiliency and Senior Advisor on Agrivoltaics with the Global Solar Council Jochen Hauff, and JinkoSolar Head of Sustainability Lin Sun.
This panel transcript is an edited and summarized version (for clarity) based on the full discussion available in the accompanying video, which can be found on the TaiyangNews YouTube Channel.
TaiyangNews: This is our 3rd sustainability event. At last year’s event, the panel discussion started with whether the solar industry was doing enough when it comes to sustainability. One year later, the question is, how has the solar industry progressed?
Jochen Hauff (Think Resiliency/Global Solar Council): The solar PV industry has made significant progress on ESG and sustainability. Projects and producers are improving their sustainability criteria, integrating ESG considerations into finance, and advancing recycling and circularity practices. Initiatives like the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) have also contributed positively.
The concern now is whether this progress was driven mainly by high political attention and ESG trends – and if that momentum has peaked. In some regions, sustainability is getting less political and media focus, and ESG finance is losing prominence. This raises the risk that the industry could slow down or backtrack. The key challenge for solar PV is how to sustain these gains, continue capturing the financial and operational benefits, and make the case that maintaining strong ESG practices is essential for long-term resilience and competitiveness in the sector.
Lin Sun (JinkoSolar): From my perspective in the solar industry, the key to ESG and sustainability success is delivering products that are genuinely sustainable and reliable for the market. When we talk about progress in this area, it’s not just about internal operations – it’s about the products themselves and how they integrate with the broader ecosystem.
I would say the answer is positive. Companies have made significant progress in covering their internal practices, operations, and supply chains. Engaging with upstream and downstream suppliers has given us a deeper understanding of the entire ecosystem, which in turn informs the sustainability of the products we offer.
The solar panels we provide today are more than just physical modules; they carry technological expertise, transparency, and information that help clients and even the wider ecosystem understand their performance, durability, and sustainability credentials. This holistic approach – from production to delivery – reflects the industry’s ongoing commitment to ESG principles and sustainable practices.
Guido Agostinelli (IFC/World Bank): I completely agree with everything Jochen and Lynn have said. I would just add 2 points. First, it’s impressive to see the significant steps the solar PV industry has taken in terms of transparency and sustainability across the entire supply chain. Suppliers, in particular, have shown continuous improvement – from module manufacturing to mining – which is very encouraging.
The second point is more of a challenge. While leading players in the market now have sophisticated ESG systems, both on the supply side and on the project/developer side, the question is how to make these standards more widespread down to smaller players.
Lin Sun (JinkoSolar): I’d like to quickly echo what Guido mentioned, as it’s very relevant. It’s important to consider whether positive spillover effects can help the entire industry improve ESG practices. An interesting initiative currently underway among suppliers in China is the Global Solar Sustainability Alliance (GSSA). This is not solely driven by Jinko, but is an industry-led proposal, designed as a complementary practice to SSI. For example, while SSI primarily focuses on vertically integrated silicon supply chains, GSSA aims to engage a broader range of suppliers – including glass, junction boxes, inverters, and others – ensuring ESG considerations reach these smaller players as well.
GSSA could potentially offer solutions for those interested in seeing how ESG standards might be more widely adopted. It may serve as a way to harmonize global sustainability efforts, working alongside SSI to create a stronger, more comprehensive framework.
TaiyangNews: In a context of policy uncertainty, economic challenges, and overcapacity, how can we leverage financing and other mechanisms to drive further adoption and growth?
Guido Agostinelli (IFC/World Bank): We shouldn’t ignore the fact that a slowdown – or, at the very least, a shift – in policy direction could create challenges, as regulation remains one of the biggest drivers of sustainability. In fact, in the absence of strong national policies – which I often observe when working in countries outside the Eurozone – the role of financial institutions, particularly multilateral ones, becomes crucial in maintaining and enforcing standards. Another key driver is consumer demand, which can significantly influence sustainability progress.
Overall, I believe multiple factors can push sustainability forward. It is also inherently part of the value proposition for many companies, which means there is likely to be a push from the supply side that we don’t always see in other industries.
That said, I share your concern about the potential consequences of a significant policy reversal, particularly from influential actors like the European Union, which has led the world in sustainability over the past 10 to 20 years.
Jochen Hauff (Think Resiliency/Global Solar Council): I think we should avoid the mindset that policies need to change or that, without a perfect framework, we can’t do anything. We shouldn’t wait for new policies to act – the industry and finance can achieve a lot within current frameworks. Much resistance comes from over-bureaucratization, which smarter solutions, including AI, can reduce. Instead of adding complexity, we should scale what works: take successful examples, like Spain’s projects, and apply them in other countries and value chains. This doesn’t require stricter policies, just efficient reporting and implementation. Political rhetoric may hinder progress, so leadership must come from the industry and finance, emphasizing tangible local and financial benefits, while continuing to roll out achievements across geographies and networks.
TaiyangNews: How can industry leaders use sustainability and community engagement to stay competitive amid consolidation and rising resistance to renewables?
Jochen Hauff (Think Resiliency/Global Solar Council): Absolutely. Rather than shouting at populist politicians who won’t listen, we should focus on building on existing sustainability policies initiated by forward-looking leaders. We need to show how these policies create tangible local and societal value – supporting biodiversity, reducing costs, strengthening supply chains, and improving transparency. By framing sustainability in terms of operational efficiency, resilience, and value creation, we make it more relevant in today’s climate. Leadership is still essential – corporate and financial leaders must step up, motivate CEOs, and actively drive change instead of waiting for ideal policy conditions. Honesty and action matter more than polite requests.
Lin Sun (JinkoSolar): To echo Johan, from a business perspective, there are 2 key points. First, even with overcapacity, high-tech and low-carbon products remain in strong demand. Clients consistently prefer solutions with advanced ESG performance and clear traceability, so we see this not as a peak but as a new milestone to aim higher.
Second, our due diligence now covers nearly all facilities, and we’re extending it deeper into our supply chain. So, with or without political support, we’ll keep investing in technology and sustainability – because clean energy can truly drive the climate transition.
TaiyangNews: Jinko has been a leader in adopting new technologies – being the first to mass-produce TOPCon cells, achieve higher efficiencies, and commit to initiatives like RE100. Looking back at all your progress in sustainability and ESG, what would you do differently if you could, and what areas do you see as priorities to take your ESG performance to the next level?
Lin Sun (JinkoSolar): I wouldn’t say we’d do things differently, but we would move faster and engage more stakeholders. 5 years ago, we had no real ESG system, and now we’re proud of the recognition we’ve earned. Still, had we foreseen how central sustainability would become, we’d have started earlier and stronger.
Looking ahead, our focus is on harmonizing standards and involving the entire value chain – not just big manufacturers, but also smaller distributors, installers, and material suppliers. Their actions and performance should be part of the wider ESG conversation, because together we can build greater confidence in the industry’s sustainable future.
TaiyangNews: Could each of you share a key policy recommendation for driving sustainability forward in the solar sector? And beyond policy, what should industry actors themselves do to lead this transition?
Guido Agostinelli (IFC/World Bank): Maybe I’ll take this first. I actually have 2 points. First, as Jochen and Lynn mentioned earlier, in a context where policies are weakening and not driven by governments, it’s crucial that the industry takes the lead – especially on certification schemes and standards. These not only set a common framework for everyone but also make it easier for smaller players to join in. With independent third-party certification, investment risks go down, and the system becomes more inclusive.
Second, I’d point to the role of financial institutions – and here, we’re seeing movement already. Many of the performance standards we rely on were drafted 15 years ago, but they’re now being updated to reflect new technologies, sectors, and supply chain challenges. Not just the LSE, but many institutions are rethinking their project criteria, which could help compensate for the policy gaps we’re seeing globally.
Jochen Hauff (Think Resiliency/Global Solar Council): At first, I thought I had no policy recommendation, since my focus has been on business. But that would be too pessimistic – policymakers can still make a difference. My key request: keep ambitious targets, no rollback, and focus on implementation. The bottleneck isn’t ambition, it’s execution. Digitalization is essential – for example, Germany’s smart meter rollout is just 3% after 20 years. Digital tools can improve grid flexibility, transparency, and reporting, helping solar penetration and sustainability progress.
To the industry, I would say: combine sustainability with resiliency. Uncertainty – political, geopolitical, and climate-related – will persist. We need to stabilize and improve sustainability performance under these conditions. That includes climate-resilient technologies and integrating long-term climate impacts into financial and insurance models.
Lin Sun (JinkoSolar): One key recommendation is: dialogue. I’m not in the best position to give policy recommendations, but from a business perspective, dialogue is essential. Bringing stakeholders together to discuss critical topics builds trust and allows us to share progress transparently. A few years ago, ESG and sustainability in the solar industry caused concern, but today, through ongoing conversations, we can present tangible achievements and understand impact. Dialogue is the most effective way to communicate and measure progress.
All 3 panelists also shared individual presentations during the event. These, along with a conference summary, can be accessed here.
