Intertek’s Clean Energy Associates appointed to measure progress toward sustainability in the solar PV supply chain

Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, announces that its clean energy advisory division, Clean Energy Associates (CEA), will be one of the first testing companies to assess the solar industry’s progress on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards under the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI).

In this role, CEA will conduct assessments at the factories of SSI member companies to monitor their compliance with the initiative’s ESG standard for the photovoltaic (PV) solar industry.

CEA was named an approved “Assessment Body” as part of SSI’s drive toward a more sustainable and ethical solar supply chain. The company has a specialty in supply chain optimization among its market-leading quality assurance, market intelligence, and engineering services. CEA has led traceability efforts for years, including supporting the development of a Supply Chain Traceability Protocol on behalf of the U.S.-based Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

SSI’s newly developed ESG standard is tailored to the PV industry to assess performance in such areas as business ethics, the environment, and human and labor rights. SSI member companies commit to having two of their sites assessed for compliance within 12 months by an approved Assessment Body such as CEA.

“Expert, independent, and trustworthy assessment is the cornerstone of any true supply chain assurance system,” said Alexia Ruvoletto, Head of the SSI Secretariat, in making the announcement. “We look forward to working together to drive a more responsible, transparent, and sustainable solar value chain.”

“CEA is committed to driving the solar industry towards greater sustainability and transparency, and we know what it takes. We are excited to help the industry achieve these critical ESG standards,” said Andy Klump, CEA’s Founder and CEO.

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About Intertek

Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide.

Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains.

Intertek is a purpose-led company to Bring Quality, Safety and Sustainability to Life. We provide 24/7 mission-critical quality assurance solutions to our clients to ensure that they can operate with well-functioning supply chains in each of their operations.

Our Customer Promise is: Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently, with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

About CEA

Acquired by Intertek in 2022, Clean Energy Associates (CEA) is a market-leading provider of quality assurance, supply chain traceability and technical services to the fast-growing solar energy and energy storage sectors.

In its supply chain work, CEA navigates the global PV solar, energy storage and green hydrogen industries with global connections, inside knowledge of the constantly changing technology and supply industry, and expert contract negotiation skills.

About the Solar Stewardship Initiative

The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) is the supply chain sustainability assurance scheme dedicated to the needs of solar PV. Designed as a multi-stakeholder initiative, the SSI gathers companies from across the global solar value chain, as well as independent ESG actors, civil society and the international finance community. Working with all relevant stakeholders, the SSI fosters responsible production, sourcing, and stewardship of solar materials.