Is ESG Risk Properly Understood in Solar and Storage Supply Chains?
Failing on traceability and supply chain management can have major consequences. From compliance with customs rules on solar imports to avoiding future reputational damage, there are many reasons why it pays to stay on top of solar and energy storage supply chains. In this pv magazine Webinar, Clean Energy Associates (CEA) share insights on the methods that work and discuss how supply chain best practices can mitigate financial risk.
You can’t mitigate a risk you don’t know exists. Clean Energy Associates (CEA) says it has identified a major gap in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risk identification and management.
According to CEA:
Most global solar and energy storage developers neither understand nor fully mitigate the ESG risks in their supply chains
A minority of developers have narrowly focused their supply chain audits on labor practices
Only a few are performing true ESG audits
This gap in understanding represents a massive unknown and unmitigated risk
Failing to understand and enforce ESG standards in your solar and battery storage supply chains isn’t just bad optics – it’s a direct threat to your bottom line. From regulatory penalties to stranded assets and destroyed brand value, ignoring supply chain scrutiny can end up costing far more than proactive diligence ever would. As regulatory attention on ESG topics ramps up, the risks will similarly grow over time.
In this pv magazine Webinar, supply chain experts from CEA – George Touloupas, Vice President, ESG & New Services, and Senior Project Managers, ESG Zhuo Chen and Nicola Licata, describe the risks and walk through the best practices for documenting and mitigating them. They’ll reveal how robust ESG and traceability measures are safeguarding projects – and where weak procurement practices leave investors exposed to unquantified financial and compliance risks.
CEA was among the first to dive deep into ESG and traceability for the solar and storage sectors, conducting hundreds of audits and advisory projects since 2021. Their experts helped craft the SEIA traceability protocol – now the playbook for US importers – and contributed to SolarPower Europe’s sustainability benchmark. Since 2024, they’ve also served as approved assessors for the Solar Stewardship Initiative in Europe.
Speakers:
George Touloupas is Vice President, ESG and New Services in CEA. Since 2010 George has been active in technical consulting for PV and energy storage projects, as well as in PV manufacturing, EPC and project development. He joined CEA in 2015 and has previously led the technology and quality team for solar and energy storage. Prior to CEA, he held positions as Chief Operating & Technical Officer at Philadelphia Solar in Jordan, as Technical Operations Director at Recom and as an EPC and project developer in Greece.
Zhuo Chen is Senior ESG Project Manager in CEA. With 3+ years of experience in the renewable energy sector, expertise in Quality Assurance of PV module production, Chain of Custody or Traceability audits for PV and BESS, ESG consulting and developed WECS ESG due diligence. Her previous experience including International Real Estate Investment and International Trading in Spain and Marketing in SaaS industry in China. She is certified in Carbon Asset Management (CBGE), SSI ESG Assessor (SPE/SEUK) and Sustainable Investing (CFA).
Nicola Licata is Senior ESG & Traceability Project Manager at CEA. She brings 4 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, including Quality Assurance, Chain of Custody, and ESG audits for PV, BESS, and Inverters. She has performed ESG & Traceability consulting for DFI financial institutions including the International Finance Corporation and HSBC where she developed due diligence frameworks. Her previous relevant experience ranges from Chinese national champion milk yogurt & ice cream market company expanding in Southeast Asia, specifically Myanmar and Singapore, and published writings in the field of China-Africa relations. She has been previously published in PV Magazine for an article on Traceability titled "Tracked Changes" in the February 2024 issue, and appeared on podcasts including International Trade Resources and the China Global South Podcast. She is certified in GRI Standards 2021 Update, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, and SSI ESG Assessor (SPE/SEUK).
pv magazine webinar content:
Where the ESG risks really are in PV and battery supply chains
How to secure silicon supply chains from forced labor and environmental risks
Why battery traceability is quickly becoming non-negotiable
Proven methodologies that investors, developers, and buyers can rely on
Real-world case studies showing what happens when ESG diligence best practices protect asset value
Q&A
