Discussion around supply chain due diligence will very likely remain a concern throughout 2023. Join this pv magazine Webinar to get informed of the latest developments, strategies, and join the discussion to share your insights.
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Solar module supply chains have never been under greater scrutiny. First Covid-19 disruptions and then legislative action in reaction to accusations of forced labor in some countries have led to project delays and increased investor demands for transparency right along the solar supply chain.
PV project developers are now grappling with implications of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in the United States and the European Union’s proposed Ban on Forced Labor Products and proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. According to the partners of this pv magazine Webinar, all of these measures will require new levels of due diligence with regards to human rights practices along all stages of PV module production.
There are considerable risks that solar energy offtakers, project developers, owners and investors are now facing, including potential project delays, reputational risks, and potential sanctions.
The solar industry has come out with initiatives to address the new legislative requirements, but do they go far enough?
Join this pv magazine Webinar, in partnership with First Solar, to get informed of the latest developments, and what comprehensive supply chain due diligence looks like today. The speakers will be Karen Drozdiak, director of global environmental, social, governance (ESG) and sustainability, First Solar, Leah Charpentier, head of European regulatory & government relations, First Solar, and Reginald Smith, research analyst, Eventide Asset Management.
pv magazine Webinar content:
- Global developments in mandatory human rights due diligence
- First Solar’s approach to “responsible solar”
- Beyond traceability and towards comprehensive supply chain due diligence
- Best practices and third-party validation: EPEAT Ecolabel and the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Validated Assessment Programs
- Overview of global solar PV supply chains and geographical concentration risks
- Investment community perspectives and solutions
- An interactive Q&A with the presenters to have your questions answered
Questions can be submitted beforehand in the comments window when registering or in the chat during the live webinar. Jonathan Gifford, editor in chief, pv magazine global, will be the moderator of this webinar.
Registration for this pv magazine Webinar is free of charge.
Speakers
Karen Drozdiak | Director of Global Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and Sustainability, First Solar
Karen Drozdiak is the Director of Global Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and Sustainability at First Solar. She is responsible for driving the company’s overall ESG program and external ESG reporting. She has worked in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry since 2011 and participated in the development of the industry’s first sustainability leadership standard (NSF 457), led by NSF International and the Global Electronics Council. She is a member of the advisory council of EPEAT, the leading life-cycle based ecolabel for sustainable electronics.
Leah Charpentier | Head of European Regulatory & Government Relations, First Solar
Leah Charpentier leads the European advocacy and regulatory efforts of First Solar, the world’s largest manufacturer of responsibly-produced thin-film solar modules. At First Solar, she is responsible for developing and implementing EU and national advocacy strategies. She is also actively involved in the company’s sustainability and European business development efforts. With over 15 years of experience in the Brussels advocacy environment, developing expertise in EU energy, climate, chemical, and waste legislation.
Reginald Smith | Research Analyst, Eventide Asset Management
Reginald Smith serves as a Research Analyst for Eventide Asset Management, a values-based investment firm based in Boston. He is primarily responsible for finding and evaluating new investment opportunities in clean tech, clean energy, and traditional energy. Mr. Smith spent five years at Johnson Controls where he developed large energy conservation and solar projects and, most recently, led the development engineering for an energy storage start-up business within the firm. Before Eventide, he spent the Summer of 2019 at Marathon Capital, an investment bank in clean energy. Mr. Smith holds an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.
Moderators
Jonathan Gifford | Editor in chief, pv magazine
While overseeing pv magazine‘s Australian website, Jonathan also reports on equipment supply, thin film and Australasia for the global print edition and online. With a background in broadcast journalism for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Deutsche Welle and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Jonathan has been reporting on environmental and technology issues since 2005. He has been with pv magazine since 2011.
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