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Astronergy earns EcoVadis Platinum rating and redefines sustainability standards in the photovoltaic sector

Astronergy has become the first Chinese photovoltaic module manufacturer to achieve the EcoVadis Platinum rating at the group level. With 86 points out of 100, the company has joined the select group of the top 1% of companies best rated globally by the socio-environmental performance assessment platform.

The achievement marks a significant shift in the competitive balance of the global solar industry. In a sector historically guided by metrics such as conversion efficiency and levelized cost of energy (LCOE), the audit of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices is now consolidating itself as a new frontier of differentiation among manufacturers.

A new competitive differentiator

The score achieved by Astronergy is the result of a long-term strategy focused on decarbonizing its production chain and adopting auditable social and governance practices. The EcoVadis assessment is based on four pillars:

According to EcoVadis itself, since 2024, medals have been awarded based on relative percentiles rather than fixed score ranges. This means that Astronergy not only implemented best practices but did so at a faster pace than its global competitors.

Group-level certification

Unlike other manufacturers that pursue certifications limited to strategic subsidiaries, Astronergy submitted its entire corporate group to the audit, including factories in China, Thailand, and Turkey. This provides additional credibility to the assessment by demonstrating that the adopted ESG standards are consistent across all company units.

This positioning is crucial at a time of increasing regulatory pressure in major importing markets such as Europe and the United States, where practices like greenwashing are increasingly being challenged by regulators and institutional buyers.

Sustainability strategy based on data and innovation

The basis for Astronergy’s score lies in concrete actions and verifiable metrics. In 2023, the company reduced:

• Energy intensity by 34.18%;

• Specific water consumption by 25.43%;

• 42,000 tons of CO₂ emissions in factories upgraded to the “Zero-Carbon” standard.

These factories, such as the Yancheng and Jiuquan units, are certified by TÜV Rheinland and use on-site solar energy, advanced automation technologies, and thermal recovery systems to increase efficiency and reduce environmental footprint.

In addition, life cycle assessments (LCA) of 15 products show that the multinational aims not only to manufacture more efficient panels, such as the ASTRO N7, but also to reduce the impact of production from raw material sourcing to final delivery.

Global repercussion and competitive scenario

The Platinum rating obtained by the Chinese company sets a new benchmark in the ESG hierarchy of the solar sector, currently dominated by manufacturers that are mostly concentrated in the EcoVadis Silver and Gold ranges.

The difference between a Silver score (70–75 points) and Platinum (86+) is exponential. According to the certifying body itself, the assessment depends not only on stated policies but also on verifiable results and concrete actions.

Strategic implications

In Europe, where mechanisms such as the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) and the CSDDD directive are being implemented, the Platinum rating allows Astronergy to offer modules with low regulatory risk and high ESG scores, favoring its participation in public tenders such as those held by CRE in France.

In the United States, the rating helps mitigate risks related to the UFLPA (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act). The high score in “Labor and Human Rights” indicates the absence of evidence of illegal practices and reinforces confidence in supply chain traceability, which is now an essential requirement for access to the U.S. market.

In Brazil, the Platinum medal strengthens Astronergy’s position in an increasingly mature and competitive photovoltaic market. With record imports and pressured margins, distributors are seeking tangible differentiators, and sustainability has become one of them.

Companies such as Solfácil, Genyx, and BelEnergy already use the Platinum seal as a sales argument, especially in the Free Energy Market, where corporate clients seek solutions aligned with their own ESG goals.

Financing and bankability

Centralized generation projects that use Astronergy modules, such as the 14.3 MW supplied to the UFV Eleven One/Four solar complexes, find it easier to obtain financing from institutions such as BNDES and BNB, which increasingly prioritize equipment with robust environmental credentials.

Conclusion

Astronergy’s achievement of the EcoVadis Platinum rating in 2026 establishes a turning point in how leadership in the solar sector is measured.

As the photovoltaic market moves toward sustainability-based trade restrictions, the ability to demonstrate real transparency, impact reduction, and ethical labor practices becomes both a barrier to entry and a decisive factor for competitiveness.

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Video

Crisis in Venezuela exposes a new cycle of intervention and dispute over resources

On January 3, U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, in an operation described as an action against narco-terrorism. The measure was announced by the U.S. government as a temporary intervention aimed at restoring stability and reorganizing the country’s management. The operation also includes immediate control of Venezuelan oil production and distribution.

This type of action raises questions about the validity of international law, the autonomy of countries in political crisis, and the use of criminal justifications for strategic purposes. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world and had already been facing economic and diplomatic pressure.

The current case expands the debate on how disputes over energy and political influence affect countries with economies dependent on natural resources and little room for international maneuver.

Want to dive deeper into this topic?

Watch the full video on the topic and understand the details of this conflict in depth!

Disclaimer: The video is in Brazilian Portuguese, but simultaneous translation and subtitles are available in multiple languages.