SEIA Releases National Standard to Enhance Solar Supply Chain Transparency

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a draft industry standard to enhance transparency of the solar and storage supply chain and help companies comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) traceability requirements. 

The first-of-its kind standard, Standard 101, provides a rubric that manufacturers and importers can follow to trace product origins from raw materials to finished goods.  

The standard is based on real-world examples of solar product shipments that were detained and released by customs officials and includes input from numerous stakeholders, including manufacturers, developers, and third-party auditors.  

“The U.S. solar and storage industry has an unwavering commitment to ethical operations,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “As we build out domestic manufacturing up and down the supply chain, this standard will help to ensure all solar and storage products installed in the United States meet the highest ethical standards. This standard is part of SEIA’s broader efforts to build a strong foundation for the industry and thoughtfully address near- and long-term challenges, setting the industry up for decades of success.” 

SEIA’s supply chain standard applies to both companies and products, supporting solar developers and manufacturers throughout every facet of supply chain mapping and tracking.  

Manufacturers can use the standard to certify an individual product as well as their business. Once the standard is published, SEIA will work with third-party auditors to certify that the provenance of a product has been properly tracked. Similarly, a manufacturer can have its supply chain management system certified by SEIA as well. 

Solar and storage developers can also use the standard to track the origins of project components while installers, insurers, and other businesses relying on solar product information can require vendors to follow SEIA’s standard. 

Standard 101 is now open for public comment and is expected to be published and in-use by Q1 2025. 

As an American National Standards Institute-accredited standards developer, SEIA has been convening diverse stakeholders to develop 11 new standards that proactively and responsibly manage the industry’s growth. In July, SEIA released Standards 401 and 201 that govern solar sales and installation practices. SEIA expects to release draft standards on operations and maintenance and environmental, health, and safety training for installers and technicians later this year, as well as an equipment recycling standard in 2025.  

Learn more about SEIA’s standards and supply chain and trade work.  

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About SEIA®: 

The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Media Contact: 

Jen Bristol, SEIA’s Senior Director of Communications, jbristol@seia.org (202) 556-2886