FAIR-PV: Future Repairable, Transparent and Sustainable Solar-PV

Project Goal

The primary goal of this project is the development of a circular photovoltaic (PV) module, with key secondary objectives including extending the lifespan of solar panels, optimizing resource utilization, and enhancing overall efficiency. This is achieved by developing a repairable and upgradable solar panel and utilizing a dynamic digital product passport to ensure transparency and fairness in the value chain. This technology unlocks critical information, such as the materials and components used and the product's environmental impact, without disclosing chain partners' sensitive information. An integral part of the product passport is a predictive maintenance module, to monitor and forecast the lifespan of the panel and its components. This combination enables a drastic improvement in the sustainability of solar panels.

Design for Disassembly

In the current industry, many composite materials and products are (still) not designed for recycling. The result is, among other things, the use of relatively complex materials, such as laminates and composites, that are difficult or cumbersome to process. During this project, the consortium develops a unique technology that can replace the biggest barrier to recycling solar panels: EVA lamination. By replacing this lamination, we enable a circular design for the disassembly of solar panels. By designing panels that can be easily disassembled, we facilitate the replacement or upgrading of specific components without the need to discard the entire panel. This also makes it possible to separate components and materials for recycling without specialized, energy-intensive, and costly processes.

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Photo by Biosphere Solar

“We often focus narrowly on recycling when it comes to end-of-life strategies of solar panels and other electronic equipment. By designing for disassembly, we can facilitate simpler strategies to extend their lifespan, reducing the necessity for complex and energy-intensive recycling processes.”

Sietse de Vilder

Project Manager and Living Lab Coordinator

Dynamic Product Passport

The FAIR-PV project is developing a dynamic product passport for circular solar panels, a digital document with detailed information on components, manufacturing, maintenance, and environmental impacts. Supported by blockchain technology, this passport ensures transparency and traceability without compromising sensitive data, enabling sustainable decision-making. A key innovation is the dynamic life cycle assessment (dLCA), which incorporates time- and location-dependent factors to help end-users determine optimal replacement times and end-of-life strategies (reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling) to minimize environmental impact. Additionally, the passport features a predictive maintenance module that analyzes performance data to identify and prevent potential failures, enhancing the lifespan and efficiency of PV systems.

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