Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, the global vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturer, announced on October 9th that it was selected by the European Commission to be an active member of the PV Consortium and Technical Secretariat in the pilot phase of the EC's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) program. The pilot phase of the PEF aims to establish rules for evaluating the environmental performance of specific product categories, and the EC has now confirmed that photovoltaic electricity is one of the product categories to be assessed.
The selection follows a formal application submitted by a consortium composed of PV scientists, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and industry groups, which together will act as a Technical Secretariat. Over the next three years, the Consortium will develop Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) for PV electricity production, which will complement the Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines already established by the EC. After development, the PEFCRs will be tested and evaluated by the consortium, along with a broad range of stakeholders.
"We are extremely honored to participate in this prestigious project, which proves once more the importance of global cooperation in the field of PV electricity generation. Sharing the results of this consortium with European consumers will build confidence in the sustainability of PV technology and the benefits of producing green, clean energy for future generations," said Mr. Darren Thompson, Managing Director of Yingli Green Energy International AG.
"As the world's leading renewable energy company, we understand that the legacy we leave as a corporate citizen is not simply based on the types of products we make, but also on reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainability in our manufacturing facilities. We are proud to use our position to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help set global standards for green solar PV manufacturing," said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy.
