Industrial leadership and increased autonomy in key strategic value chains
SOLMATE aims to establish first industry-driven value chain covering collection, logistics, characterisation, sorting, reuse of operational electric vehicle (EV) batteries, photovoltaic (PV) panels and waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) components, as well as refining and purification of secondary raw materials from end-of-life (EoL) EV batteries and PV panels.
The set-up of this value chain has potential to reduce Europe’s dependence on metals usually sourced from third countries and pioneers low-cost decentralised energy solutions for diverse markets, promising solutions not only to sustainable energy but also resource management. SOLMATE’s innovative approach to refining and purifying secondary raw materials from EoL PVs and EVs contributes to industrial leadership and increased autonomy in key strategic value chains.
Despite facing a range of barriers such as the variety of battery chemistries, absence of standardised labelling and identification processes, high recycling costs, SOLMATE’s holistic approach lays the groundwork for new value chain for the sustainable reuse and recycling of PV solar panels and EV batteries in emerging markets and high added value applications.
Expected mid-term outcomes:
Technological
SOLMATE will generate knowledge and technologies designed to empower the first 4 steps of the “waste hierarchy” – “prevent”, “reuse”, “recycle” and “recover”, with the aim to minimise “disposal”.
Innovative technologies to assess suitability for 2nd life applications or recycling operations:
- automated characterisation
- sorting
- cleaning
- dismantling
- PV panels certification
Economic
The project aims to establish a resilient and responsible value chain for sustainable reuse and recycling of PV solar panels and EV batteries in interesting emerging markets and high added value applications.
SOLMATE targets faster and cost-effective sorting and dismantling operations through robotic dismantling which will be fed with drone data. The robot could reduce the operational costs by 80%, compared with human labour.
Equipped with XRF/advanced technology, the autonomous robot could characterise with precision PV glass composition for efficient materials recycling in less than a minute.
Societal
SOLMATE addresses economic disparities by offering low-cost decentralised energy solutions to economically challenged communities. It also provides affordable energy alternatives to environmentally conscious communities, encouraging the reuse of operational products and reducing consumption of items with critical raw materials.
The project streamlines dismantling processes, replacing repetitive tasks with automation, creating quality jobs, and optimising costs and time.
Environmental
SOLMATE solutions promote renewable energy use in low-income communities, substantially reducing gas emissions.
Both reused PV modules and batteries reduce drastically their carbon footprint compared to new components.
The proposed 10-year extension for PV module lifetime demonstrates a commitment to minimising environmental impact.
Expected long-term outcomes:
SOLMATE’s circular economy solution, reusing PV modules and batteries, aims to reduce external demand for critical raw materials (CRMs), Reuse and recycling will maximise internal trade, thus contributing to a sustainable and resilient supply chain.
Anticipating the large number of decommissioned PV panels and EV batteries by the end of the decade, SOLMATE proposes sustainable technologies to tackle the waste and use efficiently all the resources, building circular practices.
Who could benefit from the SOLMATE solutions?
PV farm owners
PV farm owners
- Low-cost decentralised energy systems based on certified components to warranty extended life (10+ years)
- Reduced PV dismantling costs through autonomous robotic dismantling & sorting technologies, and intelligent assessment & sorting technologies
PV & EV battery recyclers
PV & EV battery recyclers
Valorisation of recovered materials in high added value applications:
- PV glass for ceramics and food packaging;
- Valuable CRMs from batteries recovered in form of sellable products
Vulnerable communities & Environmentally conscious individuals
Vulnerable communities & Environmentally conscious individuals
40-50% lower decentralised energy systems built with certified components, warrantied for 10+ years
EU
EU
Innovative solutions for a circular economy and in line with the CRM Act to enhance EU market circularity and reduce external dependencies
