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Recording of Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | The smarter E Europe | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 3:35 .

Experts Gather to Discuss ESG Considerations and Transparency in Solar Sustainability at Key Industry Event

The session on solar sustainability emphasized the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations and transparency within the supply chain. The speaker highlighted that ESG issues have become central in policy debates concerning not only solar energy but also other renewable sources like batteries, wind energy, and electrolytes. Both private sectors and regulators are increasingly attentive to environmental and social standards in production processes. Financing institutions are prioritizing ESG criteria for investment decisions. Significant progress has been made by the industry through committed resources towards traceability practices and independent verification of product sustainability. Acknowledging this effort, stakeholders including module buyers, manufacturers, certification bodies, and industry associations play a crucial role from various perspectives in upholding these standards. Dr. Guido Agostinelli from the International Finance Corporation introduced Laurene Gusse from ENGIE Renewables as the next speaker to further delve into these topics—emphasizing collaborative work towards sustainable practices within solar modules specifically.

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Dr. Guido Agostinelli
Solar Sector Head
IFC - International Finance Corporation
USA

As investors focus more on ESG criteria in the solar supply chain, the industry aims to enhance transparency, traceability, and reduce carbon footprint. This comes at a time of significant legislative change in Europe, with market access rules and the promotion of improved sustainability practices on the horizon.

This session will discuss:

  • How ESG considerations are impacting developers' procurement decisions
  • How solar manufacturers along the solar supply chain are addressing ESG concerns
  • Legislative requirements and industry efforts to increase transparency and sustainability performance
  • Processes for certifying solar products with low embodied carbon

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Laurene Gusse
Deputy Head of Quality & Procurement
ENGIE Renewables

To Talk

Speaker

Lin Sun
Head of Sustainability Development
JinkoSolar
China

To Talk

Speaker

Alexia Ruvoletto
Head of Secretariat
The Solar Stewardship Initiative
Belgium

To Talk

Speaker

Dr. Giorgio Bardizza
Global Manager Solar PV
TÜV Rheinland
Germany

To Talk

Speaker

Özer Ergül
Group Head of Procurement CPO
Aquila Capital
The Netherlands

Stacy Ettinger
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Trade
Solar Energy Industries Association
United States

To Talk

Further Content
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Panel Discussion of the Session: Solar Made in the EU

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 02:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Conference Program

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Despite strong research capabilities and the presence of leading production equipment suppliers, Europe has been struggling to rebuild competitive wafer-to-module manufacturing, while the USA and India have enabled a local renaissance in solar manufacturing. In Europe, even long-established inverter manufacturers have been losing considerable ground. With the EU's Net Zero Industry Act yet to deliver momentum, attention is turning to the upcoming Industry Accelerator Act. This session examines how policy, investment and value-chain strategies can strengthen domestic manufacturing and increase internal value creation.Key topics:Overview of EU and national policy frameworks to support local manufacturingStatus of Europe's solar manufacturing value chainInvestment gaps and competitiveness challenges Strategies for triggering a sustainable solar manufacturing revival 

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Perovskites: The Race for the Future of PV?

The smarter E Podcast Episode 258 | Language: English

June 25, 2026

HZB researchers explore perovskite tandem solar cells, efficiency gains, and the challenges of bringing the technology to market.

Publications
Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 2025–2029

SolarPower Europe’s annual Global Market Outlook for Solar Power is the most authoritative market analysis for the solar sector.

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026
Panel Discussion of the Session: Off-Grid: PV-Based Hydrogen Microgrid Projects Around the World

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 02:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Conference Program

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Discover how green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are transforming decentralized energy systems worldwide. This session will be presenting hands-on experience from pioneering projects in Thailand, Ghana, Namibia and South Africa. Find out how solar-powered hydrogen microgrids can replace diesel generators, strengthen energy resilience and enable short- to long-term storage, while supporting environmental and climate goals. Project partners including German SMEs and research institutes, share insights on lessons learned, local benefits and the replication potential of these systems. Selected projects were implemented with the support from the Export Initiative Environmental Protection, a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. 

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