The brochure “Solar supply chains in focus – understand the risks, buy responsibly”, produced by Powershift eV on behalf of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Mitte district offices, highlights human rights and environmental risks in the silicon-based solar module supply chain and presents possible approaches for socially responsible and ecological public procurement.

Germany is pushing for a transition to renewable energy, with a goal of sourcing 80% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. In Berlin, where wind power is limited due to space constraints, the focus is on expanding photovoltaic systems, aiming to cover 25% of the city's electricity consumption with solar energy. However, around 87% of Germany’s solar modules were imported from China in 2022, a country that dominates all stages of the silicon-based solar supply chain. Concerns arise over China’s labour rights issues, lack of trade union freedom, and human rights violations, particularly in Xinjiang, which have heightened the demand for transparent supply chains in the solar industry.

Despite China’s dominance, solar production in other Asian countries and Europe is growing. This report highlights human rights and environmental risks in the silicon-based solar module supply chain and explores ways to minimise links to Xinjiang when sourcing solar panels. It focuses on thick-film silicon modules, which are widely used in urban settings due to their high efficiency, and considers the human rights and environmental concerns associated with other critical materials like aluminium, silver, and copper, which are essential for solar panel production.