Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Political reporter Joshua Nevett revealed that the first schools in England to acquire solar panels under the government’s “Great British Energy” scheme ended up purchasing them from Chinese companies. Specifically, the initial 11 schools involved in the program sourced their solar panels from Aiko and Longi, two firms based in China. Despite the government’s claim that this initiative was spearheaded by Great British Energy, a company purportedly owned by and for the British populace, Labour MP Sarah Champion voiced concerns over the decision to procure panels from China given the allegations of forced labor within Chinese supply chains.
Champion emphasized the importance of utilizing taxpayers’ money in a manner that does not support exploitative labor practices, urging a preference for British companies over foreign suppliers. While acknowledging that this may result in slightly higher costs in the short term, she highlighted the availability of solar panels from various other countries such as Taiwan, Canada, and even the UK itself. Both Aiko and Longi asserted their commitment to prohibiting forced labor within their operations, in response to criticisms over the exploitation of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China.
The dominance of China in the global solar panel market presents a challenge in addressing ethical concerns within the renewable energy sector. Mark Candlish, director of GB-Sol, underscored the issue of forced labor in the polysilicon supply chain, a critical component of solar panels, particularly in areas like Xinjiang. Despite these challenges, many entities, including the UK government, continue to opt for Chinese-made solar panels due to their cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits.
GB Energy, a state-owned company established to invest in renewable energy projects like solar power, has committed itself to ethical supply chains. With an initial investment of approximately £200 million in rooftop solar installations for schools and hospitals, GB Energy intends to uphold stringent procurement rules to ensure compliance with ethical standards and prevent modern slavery in its supply chains. As concerns over human rights abuses in Xinjiang persist, companies like Aiko and Longi pledge to uphold ethical business conduct and responsible sourcing practices within the solar industry
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.