SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SOLAR PANELS Lorraine King who is Head of Marketing for Risen Energy Australia discusses some of the factors contributing to a solar panel’s sustainability credentials.
THE BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWER as a clean and critical part of our future energy mix is a no brainer, however there is no shortage of debate on how green or ethical solar is in terms of its supply chain and asset lifecycle. Most leading manufacturers today are just as focused on improving ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors as they are on developing new technology and enhancing performance. Indeed, public companies are held accountable by stakeholders for their impacts on ESG, being required or expected to produce annual sustainability reports. As a manufacturer of modules and developer of large-scale solar assets, Risen Energy’s sustainability impact can be broken down into four broad areas, each of which has numerous considerations. Our understanding of our materiality in each area continues to develop.
Production Stage This stage comprises all facets of the supply chain that contribute to the manufacture of solar panels and their ancillary components. Each supply chain is carefully analysed, selected and developed by Risen Energy based on ESG factors, from the ethics of raw material acquisition and processing to the merits of the manufacturing techniques. We
evaluate emissions, chemical pollutants, water use, and recycling/waste management. Improving manufacturing processes and supply chains to reduce the embodied energy of panels such as using alternate materials and methods is one area we are constantly researching. Another important focus is preventing exploitation of people along our supply chains and we are frequently re-identifying and understanding the risks of modern slavery across our global operations.
Construction or Installation Stage The development of a solar farm involves the evaluation of several aspects including transportation, land preparation, the construction of foundations, panel install, fencing, cabling and so on. We consider the credentials of our development partners in this process and ensure their values are aligned with ours. For rooftop solar, Risen assesses the transportation methods and the qualifications of our installation partners.
Use Stage The longer a solar panel is in use, the lower its emissions across its useful life. Increasing our product
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