Sustainable Solar Supply Chains

The ESMC Working Group on Sustainable Solar PV Supply Chains works on social and environmental sustainability across the European solar PV value chain.

On the social side, the group focuses especially on preventing and eliminating forced labour, a severe risk in today’s global supply chains. We work to ensure fair, safe and equitable working conditions at every stage of production, and promote robust due diligence practices among European manufacturers. Through joint analysis and policy engagement, the group aims to strengthen responsible business conduct and safeguard human rights in the solar PV sector.

The Forum discusses and prepares industry positions, replies request of the EU and national authorities, and contributes to ongoing EU initiatives – including the NZIA, Cyber Resilience Act, Cyber Security Act, NIS2, and all relevant energy security measures – to ensure strong and future-proof regulatory frameworks. It is committed to high cybersecurity standards, secure-by-design technology, and diversified Western supply chains that reduce dependence on a dominant source of supply. The Forum promotes reliability, accountability, and long-term trustworthiness of entities interacting with Europe’s critical energy infrastructure.

Open to ESMC members and eligible Western non-members, the Forum collaborates widely with grid operators, energy-security agencies, standardisation bodies, and other stakeholders, and actively participates in EU fora to advance Europe’s digital and energy resilience.