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First Solar, Qcells to be US government's preferred green-label panel suppliers

2 of the world's biggest solar panel makers, First Solar and Hanwha Qcells, are the first to register products under an ecological ratings system that will make them preferred in U.S. federal government acquiring, an industry group said on Tuesday.

Integrated, the companies have 7 products that meet the EPEAT basic developed by the Worldwide Electronics Council, according to Qcells, the GEC and the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance, a solar market group.

The distinction will help First Solar and Qcells become go-to suppliers for federal tasks, which are anticipated to be a significant source of need for photovoltaic panels. As part of his climate modification program, President Joe Biden set a. goal to decarbonize federal structures by 2045, consisting of a 50%. decrease by 2032.

The administration previously this year, for example, stated it. would set up photovoltaic panels on the Department of Defense's. Pentagon headquarters in Virginia.

This now indicates our U.S.A. assembled and sustainably made solar. items will assist the federal government accomplish its enthusiastic. climate objectives, Kelly Weger, Qcells' senior director of. sustainability, said in a statement.

First Solar has actually had actually EPEAT registered products considering that 2020. The addition of Qcells to the computer registry satisfies a government. requirement that 2 makers with at least 3 items. in a category are necessary to trigger the Federal Acquisition. Regulation (FAR), a set of rules that direct federal government. buying.

The rules were updated last year to need federal buyers. to maximize their use of sustainable products, defined as. adhering to third-party requirements described by the Environmental. Protection Firm (EPA).

The EPEAT standard for photovoltaic panels was among those. recommended by the agency. To accomplish the EPEAT label, producers. need to meet criteria for effective power and water use, recycled. material, disclosure of compounds used in manufacturing, employee. health and safety and more.

Two First Solar products ended up being the very first to achieve a new. ultra-low carbon standard that deals with greenhouse gas. emissions throughout different phases of the production process,. the business said.

As we include yet another differentiating factor that. separates our technology from the competitors, we are advised. that not all solar is produced equivalent and that embodied carbon. remains an obstacle for the solar industry, Samantha Sloan,. vice president of policy, sustainability and marketing initially. Solar, stated in a declaration.

Producing panels in the U.S. assists lower the carbon. strength of the products. Both First Solar and Qcells have U.S. manufacturing facilities.

A number of other makers remain in the procedure of getting. their solar panels registered under the requirement, according to. GEC CEO Bob Mitchell.

With the growing demand from worldwide purchasers for. properly made panels, we expect substantial growth of. taking part companies in the coming months, Mitchell said.

(source: Reuters)