Project description
Digital solutions support increasing circularity of PV panels
Less than 10 % of solar panels globally are recycled when they reach end of life, with the majority destined for landfills. The EU-funded SOPHIA project aims to demonstrate the potential for reuse, repair and recycling via advanced digital solutions throughout the supply chain. Leveraging digital product passports soon required by European law, SOPHIA will deploy AI-powered robotics to assess panel condition and guide dismantling; enable recycling by type and composition where repair is impossible, recovering valuable raw materials; and facilitate resale of repaired panels and secondary raw materials through a dedicated marketplace. Together with its prototype of an eco-designed, easy-to-dismantle solar panel, SOPHIA seeks to drive increased circularity of photovoltaic panels across Europe.
Objective
"SOPHIA addresses to the problem of photovoltaic panels End of Life, their management and the society awareness on electronic
waste management. The project will implement several Advanced Digital Solutions, involving all actors in the value chain, in order to
increase the reuse and repair rates of these products. For the evaluation of the State-of-Health and dismantling of PV panels, a robotic
prototype based on IA model will be created. In cases where it is not possible to repair and reuse the PV panels , they will recycled by shredding sorting, and specific upcycling processes for each byproduct."",
Because of their traceability and information available in the Digital Product Passport (DPP), the panels will be easily identifiable,
hence the PV panels will be recycled by type and composition, increasing the quality of the obtained secondary raw materials, thus
reducing waste generation. The repaired panels and secondary raw materials will be put up for sale on a marketplace, with the aim that all these products that are marketed have traceability provided by the DPP. Furthermore, in order to achieve goals and high circularity for the
panels in the long term, an eco-designed and easy dismantling solar panel will be developed as prototype. It is expected that in the
long term, the project will help to increase social and corporate awareness about the panel production impact, aiming towards a full
ecodesign practise fully sustainable PV industry. Additionally, SOPHIA will contribute to the generation of new markets
around the photovoltaic sector across Europe.
"
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL6-2024-CIRCBIO-02
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
46980 Paterna
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.