Project description
Optimising solar PV resource efficiency and sustainability
The EU-funded SOLARIS project aims at supporting the efficient and sustainable deployment of photovoltaics (PV) as a central pillar of the European energy system. It will combine PV market and technology development scenarios with data on supply chains, resource requirements and end-of-life management to achieve a better understanding of the environmental impacts, criticality and circularity linked to future PV. Opportunities for improving PV sustainability and European resilience will be highlighted, and recommendations on policy measures will be provided. SOLARIS will also develop a database and decision-making tool enabling the PV industry, policy and broader audience to compare different future scenarios (e.g. PV processes, materials, cell technologies, production locations) in terms of their environmental impact and supply resilience.
Objective
With photovoltaics being expected as the main pillar of the future global energy system by 2050, understanding the underlying technological developments, their supply chain material flows, resource requirements, environmental life cycle impact and circular economy potential becomes crucial for the European continent. In the transition to an increasing electrification of the energy system, Photovoltaics gives Europe the opportunity to become independent from importing fossil fuels. With a circular economy approach – as PV technology is to almost 100% recyclable – supported by and eco design strategies, Europe has the opportunity to become less energy dependent from outside and at the same time significantly reduce the environmental impacts in its energy sector.
The SOLARIS project has the expertise and is designed to give guidance and support this goal with underlying data on future market and technology development, related resource use and supply chains, environmental impact and recommendations on policy measures to guide European decision makers along this path in the future.
Despite clear goals on PV deployment, support for the development of a European industrial supply chain has been minimal.
SOLARIS will combine projected technology and market development scenarios from material mining to End of Life including recycling strategies for a deeper understanding of the future required material resources and waste recycling strategies throughout the whole PV value chain and analyse related environmental and social impacts and highlight opportunities for reducing the industry’s environmental impact and reduce resource criticalities.
SOLARIS will also develop a database that compiles variables that contribute to GHG/CO2 and EPBT savings, which can be combined to show strategies and best practice to considerably reduce GHG/CO2 emission and EPBT time at each value stage. The outputs of SOLARIS will enable the PV industry to benchmark cross-comparisons in processes and materials which can incentivise best practice to lower the environmental impacts and increase preparedness for an EU PV supply chain.
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 waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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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.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.2 - Energy Supply
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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-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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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-CL5-2024-D3-02
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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.
80686 Munchen
Germany
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.