Latest Solar Manufacturing Scorecard

SolarWorld Earns Highest Green Score Among Top 10 PV Makers

April 13, 2011 - Which of the world's largest solar PV makers are the most environmentally responsible? The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition rates many of the manufacturers with the largest market share in the industry in the organization's latest Solar Scorecard.

German PV maker SolarWorld earned the best environmental grade of the 10 largest manufacturers in the industry with a score of 91 out of possible 100 points for practices in four categories: recycling, green jobs, toxics and disclosure. Trina Solar, based in China, followed in second place with a score of 89. Tying for third place with scores of 87 were two firms among the top 10 largest, REC of Norway and First Solar of the U.S., and another U.S. firm, Abound Solar.

While the solar photovoltaic industry is growing, producing twice as many modules in 2010 than in 2009, mere growth isn't enough, according to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. It's essential that the industry strives to be as green as the energy its technology produces, the organization says, because although generating electricity using solar PV systems doesn't produce greenhouse gases, the business of making the panels can have negative environmental and health impacts if manufacturers don't take steps to avoid them.

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition's Solar Scorecard, now in its second year, is aimed at improving PV makers' environmental practices by shedding light on their manufacturing processes. {continued}