The “Study on the Development of a Take-Back and Recovery System for Photovoltaic Products” was finalised during spring 2008 and served as a starting point for the work of PV CYCLE. The study was carried out by Okopol, co-funded by EPIA and BSW and sponsored by BMU. It is available in both German and English at http://www.pvcycle.org/index.php?id=45.

The study deals with PV market and technologies analysis, waste forecasts, political and legal parameters, recycling processes and techniques, eco-balance aspects (environmental impact of the different recycling options), benchmarks of a voluntary recovery systems of PV modules and logistic costs for such a system.

In December 2008, the members of PV CYCLE signed a Declaration supported by the European Commission. It puts ahead a benchmark with the following targets: to collect a minimum of 65% of photovoltaic modules installed in Europe since 1990 and to recycle 85% of the collected waste and the promise to come up with an Environmental Agreement. 

The first collection and recycling activity organized fully by PV CYCLE took place in Chevetogne, Belgium, in 2009; 2000 modules were collected from the oldest Belgian PV generator and recycled in Germany. The results including LCA were presented at the last EU PVSEC in Hamburg in September 2009. (link to paper)

A study performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on the potential mechanisms by which the voluntary take-back and recycling scheme will be financed was delivered in December 2009. Which financial mechanism will be put in place as well as how the scheme will be financed during the following years is now under discussion in a Working Group ‘Task Force Participation Contract’. To finance operations in 2010, members had agreed last year to pay 0.24€/kg on a percentage of the sales of 2008 in EU27 + EFTA countries.

In Germany, 15 collection points have been identified. Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has been appointed as the logistics service provider for Germany. The company will report on CO2 emissions of its transportation activities regarding end-of-life PV modules in Germany.

Since November 2009, 23 new members (including associate members) have joined PV CYCLE. In total, PV CYCLE has around 75 members companies, representing more than 85% of the European market.

A recycling workshop was organized by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) during the 34^th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) in Philadelphia on June 11^th 2009. The aim was to discuss future US activities in the field of PV module collection and recycling. The collection infrastructure that PV CYCLE is setting in Europe was presented and proposed as the way to follow in the US. All the presentations held at the workshop are available on the following website.

A study has been developed by BNL, U.S., that defines a “cost optimisation model” for the collection and recycling of PV modules. For now, both Solar World’s and First Solar’s recycling schemes are included in the model, but it will be further expanded with more scenarios and processes. The results of this model have been presented by Jun-Ki Choi at the 1^st International Recycling Conference in Berlin, Germany on January 26, 2010.

Within the framework of Task 12; EPIA, PV CYCLE and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) hosted the 1st International Conference on PV Module Recycling on the 26 January 2010 in Berlin, Germany. The event presented the state-of-the-art PV module recycling and provided a platform for discussion between the PV industry and the most experienced players in recycling from other related sectors.

During the first session, an overview of all the recovery and recycling techniques for the different PV technologies (c-Si, CdTe, CIGS, thin film silicon) was given by the most experienced industry and knowledgeable research centres.

During the second session, industries involved in recycling processes from other sectors (e.g WEEE recycling, glass, lamps, etc.) shared experiences and synergies which could be applied to the PV module recycling technologies. A discussion on recycling costs and future plans for recycling in the EU took place during the last session of the conference.

The event attracted more than 200 participants. Presentations are available for EPIA and PV CYCLE members. In 2011, the 2nd edition of the conference will take place. Venue and exact date will be communicated through EPIA and PV CYCLE (and also through the Task 12 website).

In Japan, no recycling system so far has been put in place. Though, NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation) has plans for Si recovery and a METI (Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry) committee has been formed to study the issues of household PV promotion. This committee will include one dedicated working group on module recycling. 

A number of papers related to PV Module Recycling have been published during 2008 and can be found in the Publications and Reports section.