Project description
A second life for solar panels
Solar photovoltaic (PV) is the shining light of the EU’s transition to cleaner energy. However, the rapid expansion of solar installations is also creating a growing end-of-life and waste management challenge. The EU expects to generate over 160 000 tonnes of photovoltaic waste annually. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CIRCULARePV project aims to create a framework for the reliable second-life deployment of solar panels. Through advanced neural modelling and field diagnostics, the project establishes a data-driven system to predict the reuse potential of ageing modules. CIRCULARePV provides a science-based pathway to extend technology lifetimes and secure Europe’s leadership in a truly circular solar economy.
Objective
Solar photovoltaic (PV) has surpassed 1.4 TW globally in 2024, including 280 GW in Europe, becoming central to the energy transition. Yet by 2030, the EU alone will generate >0.16 Mt of PV waste annually, with nearly 18 Mt worldwide by 2050. Most decommissioned modules are still downcycled or landfilled, causing permanent losses of silicon, silver, copper, and glass, while undermining EU circular economy and net-zero goals. Reuse offers the highest environmental and socio-economic value, but current practice is constrained by fragmented protocols, limited field validation, and weak decision tools.
CIRCULARePV, led by Dr. João Gabriel Bessa, and supervised by Prof. Ricardo Ruther (UFSC) and Prof. Eduardo Fernández (UJA) will create an integrated framework to enable reliable second-life PV deployment. The project will: (1) correlate field degradation with diagnostic markers and operating context; (2) establish a data-driven classification system using bootstrap sampling and neural networks to predict reuse potential under quantified uncertainty; and (3) assess application-specific deployment strategies for performance, affordability, and sustainability.
The outgoing phase at UFSC (Brazil) provides large PV fleets and diagnostic expertise, while the return phase at UJA (Spain) contributes advanced neural modeling and circularity assessment. Together, they will deliver a science-based pathway to extend PV lifetime, reduce raw material imports and CO2 emissions, and strengthen Europe’s leadership in solar circularity.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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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-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
23071 JAEN
Spain
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.