EPEAT Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2

GEC List of Designated Experts for Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2
Release and Effective Date: January 16, 2024
Document Number P94
Issue 1 Revision 0Introduction
EPEAT Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2 have specific layers of verification that must be performed bydifferent verification entities. Annex 1 of this document identifies the different verification entities, theexperience and accreditation requirements, the independence needed, and the actions each performs. Annex 2 ofthis document identifies the overall process flow of the required activities for Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1
and 4.2.
When calculating the carbon footprint for Criteria 4.1 and 4.2, an alternative global warming potential
contribution coefficient(s) may be used instead of the standardized values provided in Annex B, Table 3 of thecriteria document. Alternative global warming potential contribution coefficients are determined using a life cycle
assessment (LCA) for the specific manufacturing process step, and that LCA has been critically reviewed. In theEPEAT criteria document this is referred to as “Path B”.
When an alternative global warming potential contribution coefficient(s) is used, Designated Experts serve aunique role in the EPEAT verification process. Designated Experts review the data underlying the LCA and verify
that EPEAT requirements for the LCA have been met and that the alternative global warming potentialcontribution coefficient is accurate. A statement from the Designated Expert must be provided as part of theoverall EPEAT verification process.
Designated Experts must have at least 10 years of experience in conducting and/or reviewing technical LCAs andexperience in engineering processes related to PV module manufacturing. Designated Experts must also be
independent from the LCA Practitioner (organization that performed the LCA), the LCA Critical Reviewer, and theGEC-approved CAB. Note that Designated Experts may also serve the role of the Third-Party Verifier.
Only Designated Experts identified on the following page of this document may be used as part of the EPEAT
verification process. GEC may update this list of Designated Experts on an as needed basis.
Please direct any questions on this document or the verification process for EPEAT Ultra-Low Solar Carbon Criteria
to EPEAT@gec.org.

©2024 Green Electronics Council (dba Global Electronics Council). All rights reserved.
Release and Effective Date: January 16, 2024
P94 (Issue 1, Revision 0)

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GEC List of Designated Experts for Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2

GEC List of Designated Experts
Organization

Contact Information

Additional Details

JR Heckman LLC

Main contact:

John Heckman is an LCA expert with morethan 25 years of experience conducting life
cycle assessments across a broad array ofindustries. Dr. Heckman coordinated theTechnical Committee of the Ultra-Low Carbon
Solar Alliance to author the underlying productstandard that provides the basis for the GEC
PV Ultra-Low Carbon Solar criteria. As a
Designated Expert within the GEC process, Dr.
Heckman can complete the assurances
required to verify alternative carbon
coefficients based on LCA-derived values.

John Heckman
Principal Consultant
Mobile: +1 303-885-1025
Email: designated.experts@jheckman.com

Certisolis S.A.S.

Main contact:
Gisèle Bovo
Responsable Qualité et Certification
Telephone: + 33 (0)4 79 68 56 07
Mobile: +33(0)6 84 38 19 52
Email: designated.experts@certisolis.com
https://www.certisolis.com/

CERTISOLIS is a French photovoltaic (PV) panel
testing and certification laboratory, COFRAC
accredited, for panel manufacturers anddevelopers of solar power plants (investors,EPCs, operators). It allows players in the sector
to promote the development of PV solutions
with confidence, to choose products with thebest guarantee of quality and durability.
Certisolis is the only French certification bodyfor photovoltaic products to carry out the“Simplified Carbon Assessment” required incalls for tender from the Regulatory
Commission of Energy (CRE) on solar power
plants. As an independent third party,
Certisolis verifies the origin of the components
and the calculation of the carbon evaluation,
which secures the projects submitted to calls
for tenders from the CRE.

©2024 Green Electronics Council (dba Global Electronics Council). All rights reserved.
Release and Effective Date: January 16, 2024
P94 (Issue 1, Revision 0)

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GEC List of Designated Experts for Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2

ANNEX 1: Verification Entities
Only GEC can identify which organizations are Designated Experts and GEC-Approved CABs. Participating
Manufacturers are required to use one of the organizations on GEC’s approved lists. Participating Manufacturers may
select any Third-Party Verifier (and laboratory and independent facility inspectors), as long as they meet therequirements for experience, accreditation, and independence.
Participating Manufacturers are responsible for engaging with the Verification Entities identified below.
Verification Entity

Designated Expert

Independent Third-Party Verifier

GEC-Approved CAB

Experience andAccreditation
Requirements

Must be on GEC’s List of DesignatedExperts. Must have at least 10 years ofexperience in conducting and/orreviewing technical LCAs. Must haveexperience in engineering processes
related to PV module manufacturing.

Must be accredited to ISO/IEC 17020, 17021,17025, and/or 17065. Accreditation body mustbe signatory to IAF MLA (or ILAC MRA, if 17025).
Must have experience in the PV industry.

Must be on List of
GEC-Approved CABs.

Independence

Must be independent from LCA
Practitioner (organization that
performed the LCA), Critical Reviewer ofLCA, and GEC-Approved CAB. Can be theThird-Party Verifier.

Must be independent from LCA Practitioner(organization that performed the LCA), Critical
Reviewer of LCA, and GEC-Approved CAB. Can
be the Designated Expert.

Must be independent
from all otherverification entities
in this table.

Reviews LCA and underlying data andverifies:

Prepares Verified Carbon Footprint and reviews
all required information. May also perform theactivities to prepare the information below or
facilitate the activities being performed:

Verifies:

Actions
Performed• LCA has addressed EPEAT
requirements (as per Annex A2.3 ofthe criteria document).
• LCA data related to alternative global
warming potential contribution
coefficient are accurate.
• Energy assignment methods meet
EPEAT requirements (as per Annex
A2.3 of the criteria document).
• If applicable, production of siliconingot includes requiredelements/processes.
• If self-generated renewable electricity
is included, there is no double
counting of Energy AttributeCertificates (EACs).
• Resulting alternative global warming
potential contribution coefficient isaccurate.

• Verified Carbon Footprint calculations(completed Table 1 in the criteria document).
• Supplier records / invoices (to confirm
quantities in Table 1).
• Facility inspection reports (to confirm
locations and processes for facilities in Table1). Facility inspectors must be independent
from the facilities being inspected.

• Package ofinformation for
ultra-low carbon
solar criterion 4.1
and, if applicable,
4.2 and 4.3.
• Information for allother EPEAT
criteria for thesolar category.

• Product data sheet.
• Laboratory analysis of module sample (toconfirm materials as per product data sheet).
Laboratory must be accredited to accredited
to ISO/IEC 17025 by an accreditation bodythat is a signatory to ILAC MRA.
If an alternative global warming potential
contribution coefficient is used in the Verified
Carbon Footprint, receives information on thealternative coefficient (LCA, critical review ofLCA, and Designated Expert statement).

©2024 Green Electronics Council (dba Global Electronics Council). All rights reserved.
Release and Effective Date: January 16, 2024
P94 (Issue 1, Revision 0)

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GEC List of Designated Experts for Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2

ANNEX 2: Process Flow for Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria 4.1 and 4.2

Note 1: The process described here must be completed for each alternative global warming potential contribution coefficient used in the Verified Carbon Footprint.
Note 2: The LCA Critical Reviewer must be independent from the LCA Practitioner, and must meet the requirements in ISO 14044, Section 7.3.2.
The LCA Practitioner and LCA Critical Reviewer must be independent from all Verification Entities [Designated Expert, Third-Party Reviewer (and laboratory and facility inspectors), andGEC-Approved CAB].
Participating Manufacturers or suppliers are responsible for engaging with the LCA Practitioner and the LCA Critical Reviewer.

©2024 Green Electronics Council (dba Global Electronics Council). All rights reserved.
Release and Effective Date: January 16, 2024
P94 (Issue 1, Revision 0)

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