Recycling Tomorrow’s Solar Modules: What happens with Perovskite-Silicon Tandems at End of Life?
Perovskite-silicon tandem modules promise higher efficiencies than conventional silicon solar modules. But what happens when they reach the end of their lifetime? A new publication in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells by QUASAR partners IPVF and bifa Umweltinstitut, together with TotalEnergies OneTech, compares four recycling routes for tandem modules and assesses both their economic […]
Lamination-Free Solar Modules: A New Approach to Module Design
Solar panels have looked largely the same for decades: cells sealed beneath glass through lamination — effective, but energy- and material-intensive, and difficult to recycle. Our recent publication, led by Christoph Pönisch, Hochschule Offenburg, with International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz and Fraunhofer ISE, explores an alternative: solar modules that eliminate lamination altogether. The challenge: […]
Beyond Recycling: Europe’s Solar Fleet Enters Its Renewal Phase
Europe’s solar sector has been one of the great success stories of the energy transition. With more than 400 GW of installed PV capacity, solar has become a cornerstone of Europe’s electricity system. But as the first generation of large-scale installations begins to age, a new challenge is emerging: what happens when these assets reach […]
How much silicon will Europe’s solar panels give back?
As Europe’s solar fleet ages, a key question is emerging: can retired solar panels become a source of valuable raw materials? New research from the EU-funded QUASAR project explores the scale of future solar panel waste and the potential for recovering secondary silicon. Europe could see up to 6.9 million tonnes of solar panel waste […]
Advancing the Circular Economy in Europe’s Solar Photovoltaic Industry
As Europe’s solar fleet matures, the industry is entering a new phase: managing end-of-life (EOL) assets sustainably while maintaining competitiveness. The QUASAR project shows how a circular economy for photovoltaics can be achieved – by combining strategic planning, technological innovation and digitalisation. Plan circularity from the start A central insight is that circularity must start […]
The Forgotten Material in PV End‑of‑Life: Repairing, Recycling & Reducing Polymers in PV Modules
On April 29, 2026, we successfully hosted our 2nd QUASAR Horizon project webcast, bringing together experts from industry and academia to explore a frequently underestimated topic in photovoltaic (PV) circularity: the role of polymers in PV modules. While most EOL discussions focus on glass, silicon, and metals, polymer components such as backsheets and encapsulants play […]
From boom to renewal: Europe’s solar sector prepares for its next chapter
The QUASAR project is leading the transformation of Europe’s solar PV industry by developing integrated solutions for end-of-life management. Europe’s solar revolution is entering a new phase. After rapid deployment from 2007 to 2014 in countries like Germany, Spain and Italy, their earliest photovoltaic (PV) systems are approaching the end of their operational lives. What […]
Beyond theory: New approaches to assessing PV module technical recyclability
Recycling and circularity are at the heart of Europe’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and Circular Economy Action Plan (CEA). Photovoltaic modules contain valuable materials, yet current recycling practices achieve only a fraction of their potential. Our latest research, presented at EUPVSEC 2025, shows how advanced methods can move from theoretical recyclability to realistic technical […]
New Report: Best Practices for Decommissioning and Repowering Utility-Scale PV Plants
As Europe’s solar fleet matures, a growing number of photovoltaic (PV) installations are approaching the end of their operational life. At the same time, many plants still in service are showing signs of degradation or underperformance, prompting owners to consider interventions that go beyond routine maintenance. Whether through full decommissioning, targeted revamping, or complete repowering, […]
The economic and climate case for second-life PV modules
In June 2025, solar power became the EU’s largest source of electricity for the first time, supplying 22% of the power mix. As Europe accelerates its solar ambitions, the question of what happens to PV modules at the end of their life is becoming increasingly urgent. While repair, reuse, and recycling (RRR) are widely recognised […]