Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) Assessments

The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) collaborates with manufacturers, developers, installers and purchasers across the global solar value chain to foster responsible production, sourcing and material stewardship.

The SSI’s mission involves:

• Ensuring that the energy transition is just, inclusive and respects human rights
• Establishing mechanisms to create supply chain transparency, ensuring global solar industry integrity
• Enabling continuous improvement of ESG performance
• Preparing the industry for relevant upcoming ESG, transparency and responsible supply chain laws and regulations
• Building regulator, customer and business partner confidence in the sustainability of the solar value chain

The SSI was set in motion by SolarPower Europe and Solar Energy UK in March 2021, as part of a workstream established in 2015 to promote sustainable production in the solar value chain.

Published in October 2023, the SSI ESG Standard was the organization’s first standard. It uses key criteria to enhance supply chain sustainability, instilling confidence in solar manufacturing practices and setting the bar for the sector’s ESG performance.

Independent Assessment Bodies (ABs), like SGS, establish and verify information on current transparency levels and ESG performance at solar value chain production sites.

SSI members from manufacturing sites must complete an ESG assessment of two sites within 12 months by an SSI-approved AB. The assurance process is at site level. A “site” comprises several activities in the same geographic area, under the same management control.

The key principles of the SSI ESG Standard

Governance and business ethics:

1. Business integrity
2. Policy and management
3. Stakeholders and communities
4. Transparency
5. Responsible sourcing

Environmental:

1. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management
2. Water management
3. Waste management
4. Pollution management
5. Biodiversity management
6. Circularity

Human and labor rights:

1. Human rights
2. Labor rights
3. Occupational health and safety

The SSI Standards’ assurance process involves a stringent site-level assessment by a compliant, independent Assessment Body (AB), such as SGS, within 8 to 10 months of becoming an SSI member. This encompasses all sites and activities for procuring raw materials and manufacturing polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells, modules and other components under the participant’s control.

Each site is reassessed every three years. Detailed expectations and timelines are defined in the SSI assurance process.

The assurance process steps:

1. Your company meets SSI membership due diligence
2. Your company signs the SSI Principles, commits to assessment and becomes a member
3. Your company completes a self-assessment against the SSI Standards within six months
4. The SSI or your organization selects an SSI-approved AB. The assessment plan and dates are agreed before the AB conducts an on-site assessment
5. The SSI delivers a certification decision based on your company’s performance and as recommended by the AB
6. The SSI publishes a summary report of the assessment on its website
7. Your company becomes an SSI-certified member and can make the associated certification claims
8. Your company undergoes continuous improvement and follow-up surveillance
9. Reassessment occurs every three years

Solar value chain manufacturers, developers, installers and purchasers are welcome to become SSI members. Other stakeholders are welcome to join the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG).

Membership allows your organization to get involved in these sector-defining standards from their inception and helps you prepare for upcoming legislation.

SSI membership signifies your commitment to the SSI Principles. Members are only considered certified after undergoing an independent assessment within 12 months.

You can join here.

As of 2024, over 40 organizations active in the solar industry and/or supply chain responsibility have joined the SSI. View the current members’ list here.

Since its inception, the SSI has secured global financial community endorsement, particularly through the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) and the European Investment Bank.