CSR by REC - Test Page
Corporate Social Responsibility: committed today for a better tomorrow
There are many factors that impact the overall carbon footprint of a solar panel, for example: where it was manufactured; the materials used; and the energy consumed in building it.
So, while your choice to go solar is doing good, how much good can vary greatly. If you decide to go solar, you want to be sure that by your decision you are making a positive contribution to protect the environment and society.
- REC adheres to local regulations in our markets with the aim of recycling as much as possible (based on the long lifespan of REC solar panels of over 25 years, the module scrapping rate is low at an average of 0.5%).
- Our panels are also designed to be easily recycled, after a long lifetime and many years of high performance.
- We convert kerf, a by-product of the wafer production process, to high-quality solar silicon, enabling us to drastically reduce our carbon footprint to 6-7 kg CO2-eq / kg silicon compared to conventional processes (up to 140 kg CO2-eq / kg).
We extend our CSR initiatives to consumer issues, by empowering individuals and businesses to make the switch to clean solar energy.
- With 11 GW REC solar panels installed worldwide by the end of 2020, we are empowering more than 17 million people to make the switch to solar energy for a brighter future.
- We choose to work with companies whose values are in line with our mission to deliver clean energy.
- We focus on long-term, sustainable and fair business relationships, fostered through our continuously expanding Channel Programs worldwide.
We take the task of social responsibility seriously, even beyond our company, by supporting a number of projects and foundations aligned to our values.
- Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit housing organisation working in communities across approximately 70 countries.
- Donating solar panels to remote Himalayan villages, empowering every household with basic access to energy.
- REConstruct, an initiative developed to supply REC Alpha solar panels at no cost to community groups impacted by the Australian bushfires.
- The Honnold Foundation, empowering communities by providing REC Alpha solar panels to offset the bills of low-income families in Detroit, Michigan.
To make a positive environmental impact, it’s important our solar panels are sustainably manufactured, transported, installed, and eventually recycled.
With our latest innovation, the REC Alpha Pure Series, we have again demonstrated our commitment to sustainability by eliminating lead from panel components and making the panel RoHS compliant while providing customers with a higher power density of up to 219 watts per square meter.
By doing so, the new product not only saves more carbon emissions but is also significantly easier to dispose of at the end of its working life with less impact to the ecosystem.
REC Alpha Pure empowers homeowners and businesses to drastically reduce their electricity bill and their environmental footprint.
TEST About a brand full of power
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This approach is supported by our mission, vision, and values, which are our motivation to grow, succeed and create value for our partners and end customers of solar.
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ENERGY FOR ALL, DIRECT FROM THE SUN
At REC, our vision is for every person to benefit from electricity directly from the sun. We hope to achieve this ambitious vision thanks in part to our partnership approach to business in addition to REC’s high-quality products, services, and solutions. This commitment to partnership is what makes us stand out from our competitors and allows us to develop mutually beneficial, strong, long-term relationships. -
OUR MISSION
Renewables Empowering Communities. This is our overall mission. We create value through efficient and sustainable solar products, services and investment opportunities together with our partners to better meet growing electricity needs globally. -
STRONG ON VALUES
We are responsible towards the environment and to our employees, partners, customers and society as a whole. We have a wealth of experience and understand that our partners and customers have different needs, and we use our experience to improve our products, materials and services. We are collaborative and believe that, by working together, we can all achieve our individual and mutual goals. We are straightforward, honest and transparent in all our dealings.
Founded in 1996, REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company dedicated to empowering consumers with clean, affordable solar power. As Solar’s Most Trusted, REC is committed to high quality, innovation, and a low carbon footprint in the solar materials and solar panels it manufactures. Headquartered in Norway with operational headquarters in Singapore, REC also has regional hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
REC hosts and attends multiple events around the world, giving you a first-hand look at some of our premium solar panels, value-adding tools for solar installers, and success stories. See where we've been and where we'll be. Chances are we'll be in your neighborhood.
REC is an international, pioneering solar energy company with Scandinavian heritage. Our commitment to partnership, supported by our mission, vision, and values are all what help us to help you.
REC employs staff in virtually every professional function, including technology, production, administration, supply chain and logistics, and sales and marketing, among others - and we all contribute to something good. REC's future is bright. Yours can be too.
Why choose REC - EN
Beyond power and price; real reasons to choose REC panels
It is important to consider the brand of solar panels you install. Founded in Norway in 1996, REC’s combination of product quality, company longevity, and commitment to sustainability makes us the ideal brand for your solar investment. Discover why REC Group is a world standard in solar energy systems for homes, businesses and utilities.
REC continuously inspires the industry with its award-winning innovations and progressions in panel technology, including mastering HJT – the solar technology of the future, already at REC today.
Come inside our factory in the modern island-nation of Singapore and discover the high automation of REC production and the measures we take to deliver product quality beyond expectations.
REC confidently offers warranties that empower consumers: 20-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. Plus, all REC panels are eligible for REC ProTrust; a comprehensive package that offers a 25-year warranty for each of product, performance, and labor (conditions apply).
Established in 1996, REC is truly a solar pioneer. And as part of Reliance Industries Limited – a Fortune Global 500 company – REC is strongly positioned for exponential growth and to remain an industry leader.
At REC, we want to help you to choose solar panels more responsibly. Our robust Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy demonstrates how REC is committed today for a better tomorrow.
Browse through a growing selection of solar installations from around the world – including homes, businesses, power plants, and floating on water – all powered by REC.
World-class warranty - EN
World-class solar panel warranty with premium coverage
REC solar panels are widely renowned for their premium quality, supported by our very low warranty claims rate. With that, REC confidently offers warranties that empower consumers: 20-year product warranty + 25-year power warranty. Plus, all REC panels are eligible for REC ProTrust*; a comprehensive package that offers a 25-year warranty for each of product, power, and labor.
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Product warranty
REC panels come standard with a 20 year product warranty. This covers panel defects and promises that the panels will maintain their superior quality for at least 20 years. All panels are eligible for a +5 year product warranty extension, as per the REC ProTrust Warranty* -
Power warranty
REC’s power warranty protects you from power loss and ensures that REC panels perform exactly as expected to – every year for 25 years and enables greater ROI predictability. For example, REC Alpha panels promise 92% of nameplate power in year 25 – an industry best. -
Labor waranty
The labor warranty is unique to the REC ProTrust Warranty* and gives end customers added protection in the unlikely event that an REC panel needs to be serviced. For approved claims, REC will pay a fixed labor fee to an REC Certified Solar Professional installer.
The REC ProTrust Warranty covers product, power, and labor – and is exclusively offered by REC Certified Solar Professional installers.
Consumers with installations up to 25 kW enjoy maximum comfort and peace of mind knowing that they can have a 25 year warranty for each of product, performance, and labor. Systems between 25-500 kW can have the same 25 year product and performance warranties, plus 10 year labor warranty. And if the original commissioning installer goes out of business, the REC ProTrust Warranty still applies; REC has you covered!
Made in Singapore - EN
High-power solar panels made in Singapore, with precision and ethics
REC solar panels are manufactured at an integrated state-of-the-art facility in Singapore, where a 2.4 MW rooftop system directly contributes to the factory’s energy needs. From this modern island nation with strong ethics, REC panels are shipped and installed around the world. Come inside and discover the high automation of REC production and the measures we take to deliver product quality beyond expectations.
REC's internal testing is up to three times as stringent as industry standards – meaning that when we send out our panels for certification or testing, we know they will pass. But beyond attaining a certification, we want our panels to be reliable for the lifetime of the product and perform strongly in even the most extreme environments.
REC products and production processes are also certified and endorsed by independent third parties according to multiple global and regional industry standards, solidifying the fact that REC panels meet the highest quality standards required for a long-lasting product. REC panels have also been recently recognized as a Top Performer in the DNV-GL Module Reliability Scorecard, proving their market-leading quality.
The reliability and quality of our panels are evidenced by our claims rate – out of 4 million panels manufactured each year, just 400 might come back as product claims. REC's warranties reflect this strength, further supporting REC's premium quality. And in the unlikely event of a product claim, we have proven processes in place that ensure smooth, streamlined, and hassle-free handling of them.
At REC, ethical business practice is of the utmost importance and we pride ourselves on demonstrating commitment to corporate ethics and personal integrity. The REC Code of Conduct governs this and underlines REC’s commitment to doing business the right way. This ensures we have the strongest working relationships with our partners, customers, and suppliers. The REC Whistleblower Procedure is in place to help enforce this. In addition, the Modern Slavery Act is in place to ensure the prevention of human rights violations related to our operations, our supply chain, and our products.
Here for the long term - EN
When choosing a brand of solar panels to use, it's important to consider the reliability of the manufacturer. After all, you want to be sure that they'll be around to honor warranties if necessary. Established in 1996, REC is truly a solar pioneer. And as part of Reliance Industries Limited – a Fortune Global 500 company – REC is strongly positioned for exponential growth and to remain an industry leader.
In an industry where so many brands and manufacturers come and go, REC has remained a constant leader and this will continue. Our parent company Reliance Industries Limited is a Fortune Global 500 company who is committed to growing REC exponentially so that more people can enjoy more power.
Founded in Norway in 1996, REC is a pioneering solar energy company with Scandinavian heritage. Solar is our focus and we do it exceptionally well. With award-winning solar panel innovations and strategies that support sustainable business growth, REC is preferred by homeowners, installers, businesses, banks, and investors as a sound investment.
REC is a proven long-term player in the solar industry that you can count on, and our after-sales service is second to none. We want you to be happy with your solar installation throughout its entire lifetime and have technical experts in each region in the event that support is needed.
Leading technology - EN
REC has introduced a series of game-changing solar panel innovations, evidenced by multiple legitimate third-party awards, including being the only solar brand with three Intersolar Awards. REC continuously inspires the industry with its progressions in panel technology, including mastering HJT – the solar technology of the future, already at REC today.
Awards and accreditations are nice – especially when they’re from independent expert juries, highly-respected organizations, and solar installers! REC is proud to have amassed several over the years for our product innovations, manufacturing innovation, after-sales service, sustainability, and quality. Innovation is in our DNA; global energy transitions cannot progress without new means and technology leaps. REC is proud to be a true innovator in solar technology.
REC Alpha – solar panels based on Heterojunction technology (HJT) – launched in 2019. With it, REC leapfrogged other brands and manufacturers, spearheading the drive towards more: more innovation, more environmental good, more power. The long-term reliability of HJT is supported by the power warranty of REC Alpha panels, which promises at least 92% of nameplate power in year 25. This enables consumers to keep and generate more power over their solar system’s lifetime.
REC was the first manufacturer to introduce solar panels using half-cut cells (REC TwinPeak).
REC pioneered the ‘Twin’ panel design.
REC was the first to use n-type TOPCon cells in a ‘Twin’ design (REC N-Peak).
REC was the first to mass produce solar panels featuring HJT cells in a half-cut format (REC Alpha).
REC is very proud to be leading by example.
Since the launch of REC Alpha in 2019, REC has continuously mastered HJT technology, increasing panel performance while minimizing environmental footprint. One of REC’s advancements on this technology platform is AMI – Advanced Module Interconnection. This innovative solder-free foil and wire combination has enabled REC to use larger G12-size wafers for REC Alpha HJT cells and panels. Learn more about AMI, the superiority of HJT and how REC has mastered it, all in our flyer here.
Reliability of a European brand
REC was founded in 1996, and has since become an international pioneering solar energy company. At the end of 2019, REC had produced around 38 million solar panels amounting to more than 10 GW of clean energy. That’s enough to power more than 16 million people at home. Solar is our focus and we do it exceptionally well. With initiatives such as in-depth industry and market studies, combined with strategies that support sustainable business growth, it's no wonder that REC is widely regarded as a thought leader in the solar industry.
REC’s total global numbers at end-2022
Founded and headquartered in Norway, REC is a pioneering solar energy company with Scandinavian heritage, and a truly global brand, with offices, representatives, partners, and installations with REC panels all over the world.
A solar installation of any size is a long-term investment. Thus, when deciding which brand of panels to choose for your solar installation, you want to be sure that the manufacturer will be around for the duration of the warranties it offers. REC is a proven long-term player in the solar industry that you can count on.
Our after-sales service is second to none, and we want you to be happy with your solar installation throughout its entire lifetime. We have technical experts in each region in the event that support is needed.
We aim to build long-lasting partnerships with both our direct customers and solar installers worldwide. It is together with them – and you – that we aim to achieve our ambitious vision, where every person benefits from electricity directly from the sun.
Providing benefits to installers and end customers, REC offers a tailored certification program for solar installers that allows them to be designated "REC Certified Solar Professionals". Knowing that not only is the solar panel of a high level of quality, but that the person installing it is also highly skilled and has been trained by REC, gives end customers added peace of mind. For our installers, the REC Certified Solar Professional program gives them unique benefits and an advantages over other solar installers in their area.
At REC, ethical business practice is of the utmost importance and we pride ourselves on demonstrating commitment to corporate ethics and personal integrity. The REC Code of Conduct governs this and underlines REC’s commitment to doing business the right way. This ensures we have the strongest working relationships with our partners, customers, and suppliers. The REC Whistleblower Procedure is in place to help enforce this. In addition, the Modern Slavery Act is in place to ensure the prevention of human rights violations related to our operations, our supply chain, and our products.
Recycling of REC solar panels
The European WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive regulates the correct recycling of electronic and electrical waste in all member states of the European Union (EU).
For end-customers it is a free of charge disposal system, financed by the manufacturers and importers, where modules can be brought to a local recycling depot, or in the case of larger numbers, be picked up from site, as is the case with other electrical equipment, e.g., refrigerators or televisions.
The extensive process steps for proper disposal are strictly regulated by the authorities and place no further obligations on the owner of the modules. For more information about the recycling of this product, please contact your local recycling authority or recycling center.
In order to make a quality and long-lasting product, all the individual components of a solar panel need to be permanently bonded to each other. When it comes to recycling however, this conflicts with the recycling industry’s desire for ease of disassembly. For an in-depth look at why recycling a panel is important and how it can be done, read our whitepaper.
REC’s cooperation with our recycling partners has however shown that practically each component of our solar panels can be completely recycled. An REC solar panel primarily consists of the following components:
An ultra pure and low-iron solar glass is used by REC. During recycling, it is ground down to a fine powder and processed into foam glass for use in the construction industry.
(See Image 1)
The frame, as well as the corner pieces which hold it together, are made exclusively from aluminum. 100% of this metal is recovered after the shredding process by means of electromagnetic and mechanical procedures and can then be directly re-utilised as raw aluminium in the metal industry. (See Image 2)
The cells consist of silicon, but as pure silicon is one of the most common elements on earth, it is not always worth recovering from solar cells.
The cables contain a copper conductor. Methods of recovering copper from cables are well known and have been used in the recycling industry for a long time. The latest methods and processes are used by our recycling partners.
REC uses copper ribbons with a lead-containing solder. REC’s recycling partners use the appropriate processes to recover the pure metals from each component. (See Image 3)
These materials are used for different components of the panel:
- The insulation of the copper wires is separated from the copper and added to the other plastics from the panel, such as:
- Embedding materials: REC uses EVA (Ethyl-vinyl acetate) – EVA is transparent and soft and not thermoplastic meaning it cannot be re-melted.
- Back sheet: This back sheet consists of several layers of various high quality plastics which cannot be separated from each other.
- Junction box: The junction box casing is made of thermoplastics filled with curing silicone, in order to safely insulate the diodes contained within. Separating the components is possible but not always economically feasible. This also applies to the casing of the diodes.
Therefore the plastic materials in REC panels are thermally recycled and not reused. (See Image 4)
REC panels do not contain toxic substances such as cadmium, except for the lead mentioned above which is used as part of the alloy for the solder.
The mechanical processing and conversion of the individual material components into high quality secondary raw materials leads to a clear reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the extraction of primary raw materials.
In summary, the recycling of REC panels follows state of the art processes and the separate recovered materials can be easily and safely returned to the industrial and economic cycles.
REC SunSnap: new must-have app for installers
Attention installers! REC's new app grants you unique sales and warranty advantages
The innovative digital approach of REC SunSnap means you gain more time for customer engagement and business growth.
Register the REC solar panels in your installation simply by scanning or keying in the barcode via the new REC SunSnap app. The app is an easy way to build a central structured record – with both map and list views – of your REC projects, complete with the serial numbers of individual panels. Plus, multiple installers can register projects under one company account, enabling the entire team to leverage their successful track record.
Ever wanted to show would-be customers your previous installations and ended up scrolling through hundreds of photos on your phone to find what you want? With the REC SunSnap app, you can create a showcase of your success stories by uploading pictured of your REC installations – and have them all sorted and ready to wow customers.
Just scan your REC solar panels on site (or key in the barcodes), and finalize the details later: that’s all it takes to give your customers the extended warranties that only REC-certified Solar Professional installers can offer. The certificate is available as soon as the simplified registration is finalized. And in the event of a claim, the app’s serial number overview instantly tells you the location.
For all solar installers: subscribe to the “RECent News” newsletter. Get the latest about REC, new products, upcoming trainings, webinars, marketing campaigns, and more.