The race to achieve net-zero carbon emissions targets is intensifying as concerns deepen over global warming. Despite wind and solar plants easing reliance on fossil fuels, renewable energy companies are aware that they too have emissions challenges to resolve because of their supply chains.
Take wind power. The turbine blades contain petrochemical-based resins, while transporting them by sea or air produces carbon emissions, as does the extraction and production of the concrete, steel and other metals used in their manufacture. In the solar industry, polysilicon is a key material in solar panels and 75% of global capacity resides in China. But there have been worrying reports of forced labour and coal power used in its production in China.
Consequently, there is growing pressure on renewable energy players to do more to make their supply chains more sustainable. At the end of COP26 in Glasgow, summit president Alok Sharma urged the renewable industry to “drive action across your supply chains, encourage your suppliers to commit to net zero and work with them to reduce emissions”.