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Innovative Solutions for Extended Life of PV Modules

Millions of photovoltaic modules are going to reach the end of their proposed lifespan in close or midterm future, but many are still functional. You are challenged to come up with innovative solutions to evaluate the functionality of these modules and propose concepts for a second life- or re-use. Join forces with SOLARIMO to improve the efficiency and lifetime of PV modules and build a more circular energy industry.

#PVModuleReuse #PhotovoltaicLifecycle #CircularEconomy

  • ✅ Challenge completed
  • 🏁 Winner
    Congratulations to KatexPower & SolarDoc for taking first place!
  • 🏆  Rewards
    EUR 3,000 prize pool + customer testing + potential distribution partnership and investments
  • 🌎 Scope

    Global with focus on the regulations of the German market within solution development

  • ❓ Q&A Call
  • 🌱 Innovate 2030 All SDGs

    This challenge is part of the Innovate 2030 program

Brief
Submissions
Rewards
Opportunity Areas
Knowledge Base
FAQ

In the following you will find some helpful background informationto steer your solution in the right direction.

Knowledge Base

Today, large-scale plants commissioned before 2015 incur costs of around €4 per module (less the value of the aluminum) for the operators - and the trend is upward due to rising logistics costs. There are no costs for private customers (in this case, however, for the municipalities, which are responsible for the recycling centers). In all cases, however, recycling would offer customer benefits in terms of sustainability.

 The market is to be distinguished into:

  • Modules from private customers (20 - 30 units): Here the market for a recycler is the municipal recycling centers, which could award the service via tenders (not relevant)
  • Operators of PV systems with commissioning before 2015
  • Manufacturers of PV systems who are obligated to take back (free of charge) systems commissioned after 2015

Overall, the addition around the year 2000 (relevant from 2030) was about 100 MW (400,000 modules at a power of 250 W) and reaches in the 2010s (relevant from 2040) with strong fluctuations about 4,000 MW (about 15 million modules at 300 W)

 Assumed value of raw materials per module: 10 €

History of photovoltaics

Development of the annual installed capacity of photovoltaic systems

Disposal of solar modules

Recycling of PV modules

Recycling of electrical waste

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