By embedding sustainability and community focus into every facet of our operations, QSM ensures that our growth contributes positively to the world’s transition to renewable energy.
We recognize that the way solar components are made matters for the planet just as much as deploying solar panels themselves. Therefore, QSM is committed to minimizing the environmental footprint of our operations from day one. This commitment is evident in our materials and energy choices: for example, our New Zealand polysilicon plant will use renewable electricity for energy-intensive silicon purification, dramatically cutting carbon emissions per kilogram of polysilicon produced. Industry-wide, solar manufacturing has often been powered by coal – indeed, as of 2022, coal-fired electricity made up over 60% of the power used in PV manufacturing, due to heavy production concentration in coal-rich regions of China. QSM’s geographically diversified strategy allows us to site production in cleaner grids and utilize green energy sources whenever possible. We aim to set new benchmarks for low-carbon solar wafer production.
Additionally, QSM emphasizes resource efficiency and circularity. By integrating the supply chain, we can reuse and recycle materials that would otherwise be wasted – for instance, collecting silicon kerf (sawdust) from wafer slicing and feeding it back into the production of new silicon, or re-purifying spent crucibles. We also prioritize reducing waste and emissions through best-in-class manufacturing processes and pollution controls. Our goal is not only to enable clean energy with our products but to ensure the process of making those products is itself clean and sustainable.
QSM strives to leave places better than we found them.