Partners

VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) is an independent Flemish research organisation in the area of cleantech and sustainable development. Our goal is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

• Project management
• Automated technologies for remote characterization and dismantling of EoL PV
• Sustainability assessment (LCA and LCC) of the decentralized energy solutions

TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION is a private, independent, non-profit applied research centre of international excellence. Legally a Foundation, TECNALIA is the leading private and independent research and technology organisation in Spain and one of the largest in Europe, employing more than 1,400 people (287 PhDs) and with an income of 114 million € in 2020.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

TECNALIA will lead WP6-task 6.2 concerning recycling technologies for batteries that cannot be reused or repurposed, aiming the improvement of a process developed in a previous project (CROCODILE) by valorising other components (Li, Ni, graphite) in addition to cobalt (Co).

CEA is a public Research and Technology Organization (RTO). With a staff of about 20 000 employees, over 700 priority patents per year and 178 high-tech spin-offs since its creation, CEA represents today the largest technology R&D provider in France, with main role to transfer this know-how to the industry at national and international scale.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

WP3 leader, CEA will also take part in:

• The definition of a dedicated testing protocol based on adapted accelerated ageing tests to assess 2^nd life PV modules’ reliability.
• The creation of a database providing statistics about durability assessment to qualify 2nd life PV modules
• The redaction of a guideline for usage selection, so that the 2^nd life PV modules can be qualified for a specific usage according to performances, safety requirements and durability expectations.

From Renaissance philosophy to cutting-edge nanotechnology: KU Leuven has promoted ground-breaking research and high-quality education throughout its storied existence. The KU Leuven research groups ACRO, ELECTA Gent and TRANSfarm bring their expertise in robotics, AgriPV and innovation to Solmate.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

KU Leuven leads Work Package 5, where the demonstrators showcase solutions developed within SOLMATE. This includes robotic arms for PV system dismantling, as well as an Agrivoltaic set-up with 2^nd life PV modules and batteries at TRANSfarm.

ENGIE Laborelec is a leading centre of expertise and research in the area of electrical energy technologies. With a highly qualified workforce with expertise in the entire electricity value chain, Laborelec supports the energy transition and the acceleration of the net zero carbon journey.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

ENGIE Laborelec takes the lead in identifying the minimum technico-economic prerequisites for the reuse of PV panels and EV batteries (WP2) and assists in developing automated technologies to characterise end-of-life PV modules remotely (WP4). Laborelec also provides support in demonstrating robotic solutions for dismantling and sorting PV modules and developing testing procedures to qualify end-of-life EV batteries.

SunCrafter is a family-owned cleantech business located in Berlin. SunCrafter´s expertise is based in many years of experience in solar maintenance as well as the construction of off-grid solar charging stations and generators for various purposes, ranging from solar home systems for rural communities to phone charging stations for events in Europe.

SunCrafter‘s unique upcycling technology turns decommissioned photovoltaic panels into powerful low-voltage plug & play solar generators, making clean energy access available wherever needed.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:
Coming soon.

SOREN is the Producer Responsibility Organisation in France. Accredited by the French authorities, it ensures the free collection and processing of end-of-life photovoltaics panels of all technologies, for their owners.

Soren is developing a high value recycling system, aimed to achieve high valorization of critical raw materials. Since 2022, Soren financially supports reuse and worked with stakeholders on technical criteria and associated tests.

Between 2015 and 2022, Soren has collected more than 22,000 tons of photovoltaic panels.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

SOREN will provide PV modules during the project for:

• The specification tests for re-use and refurbishment
• The demonstrators that will be develop
• The analysis of the glass composition before the treatment process

SOREN will also contribute on the re-use topic bringing our knowledge about the technical requirements.

Comet Traitements (Comet) is a Belgian innovative high-growth company recycling shredder residue and the by-product of the shredding of metallic wastes. Since its creation in 2002, they have developed and industrialised more than 8 post-shredder separation and recycling processes for the recovery of non-ferrous metals, minerals, iron oxides, synthetic fuel, plastics, etc. The success of these technologies has helped Comet to build up sustainable supply chains of secondary raw materials in Belgium. In addition, it also contributes to meeting EU targets on recovery rates and secure its reputation as an industry leader.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:
Within SOLMATE, Comet will take over the sorting of PV glass from non-reusable PV modules according to their impurities.

Treee is an entrepreneurial project that thanks to the M&A activity facilitated by the financial component of JZ international, has brought together leaders in the logistics and treatment of all waste electrical and electronic equipment, to offer all the stakeholders involved, services with a high level of specialisation in the collection, treatment, recycling and reuse of WEEE.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

Leading work package 6 (WP6): Recycling technologies for EoL PV and battery that cannot be reused or repurposed

Watt4Ever works on remanufacturing and repurposing second-life and end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries into sustainable energy storage systems. Founded in 2022, it aims to become a one-stop shop for EV batteries in Belgium.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

W4E contributes to creating a certified, low-cost decentralised energy system utilising reused EV batteries. It demonstrates the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in a school in Anderlecht (Brussels, Belgium).

ReVolta creates a storage system from second-life batteries and provides a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that optimally manages storage assets and maximise their value.

In 2020, ReVolta partnered with other Belgian companies active in the value chain to create Watt4Ever and to scale up its second-life batteries activity.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:
ReVolta develops a suitable Energy Management System (EMS) for the batteries repurposed by W4E, which will be demonstrated in a school in Anderlecht (Brussels, Belgium).

Coming soon.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:
Coming soon.

SolarCleano is a Luxembourg-based robotics company aiming at providing innovative robotic solutions to the solar panel cleaning industry. The company was born by combining its knowledge of mechanical design with solid solar panel cleaning experience.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:
Coming soon.

Inflights is a platform to obtain and process drone data globally. Flying for insights.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:
Drone operations for measuring the solar panels.

PNO Innovation Belgium is specialised in Innovation Management and funding, providing support services to private and public organizations in Innovation processes, Technology Transfer, IT solutions and funding for research, development and innovation.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

PNO will lead Communication and Disseminationactivities and will provide VITO with support on the exploitation activities, leveraging its international consulting experience including extensive project and innovation management, exploitation and business planning expertise. A particular focus will be given to value chain stakeholders analysis, to identify and engage relevant stakeholders for further exploitation activities, as well as market and business analysis to support the consortium into bringing the Key Exploitable Results closer to the market.

Out of Use is an environmental company specialised in sustainable solutions for companies with obsolete appliances.
Out of Use gives a new purpose to every appliance, working or broken, with a 100% focus on data security.

Main tasks and responsibilities in the project:

OOU will evaluate the potential for reusing different WEEE components coming from dismantled PV farms or EV batteries. A low-cost testing methodology and procedures for repurposing will be developed.