Abstract
As the PV sector continues to grow, becoming an increasingly important contributor to the electricity supply mix, proving true sustainability is becoming increasingly important to support the promise of a viable, longlasting, and eco-friendly electricity source. Various data suggest room for improvement when it comes to reliability and sustainability, and therefore, several initiatives from the private sector and from governments – including the EU Commission – have been launched. Following the conclusion of the European Commission’s preparatory study for Eco-Design, Energy Labeling, Green Public Procurement and Ecolabeling for PV modules, inverters and systems, a Joint Mission Group (JMG) of international PV experts evaluated the proposals and provided recommendations on the parameters, structure and benchmarks for the implementation of sustainable product policy instruments for PV in the European Union. The closely interlinked topics of product lifetime, quality and reliability, energy yield and sustainability performance require a holistic approach, to ensure comparability and transparency for electricity prosumers and a level playing field for the value chain actors – the combination of mandatory product requirements, backed by quality, reliability & sustainability standards, information requirements on performance through prosumer labels and incentivization of more sustainable products can become the backbone of a reinstated European PV value chain along all life cycle stages. Included in the recommendations of the JMG is the concept of an “Environmental Impact Index”.