Eco-Solar | Eco-Solar Factory - 40%plus eco-efficiency gains in the photovoltaic value chain with minimised resource and energy consumption by closed loop systems

Summary

EcoSolar envisions an integrated value chain to manufacture and implement solar panels in the most ecologic way by maximising resource efficiency, taking into account reuse of materials during production and repurposing solar panel components at end of life stage.

EcoSolar will demonstrate that during the lifetime of a solar electricity producing field, individual panels can be monitored, allowing to identify defaulting panels at an early stage, replacing or repairing them and thus to increase the overall energy yield. In WP1, SINTEF&Norsun will work on recovery & reuse during silicon ingot crystallisation, addressing recovery of argon purge gas and work with Steuler on reusable crucibles.

In WP2 Garbo will recover Si-kerf-loss during wafering, and with SINTEF work on potential reuse applications, like as Si-feedstock in crystallisation processes, or as resource in crucible manufacturing or lithium ion battery production.

In WP3, ISC&SoliTek will look into potential for re-using process water; reducing material resources, like chemicals and silver, by smarter solar cell design, more efficient processes and recovery and reuse of chemicals; AIMEN will develop solar cell monitoring and repair for inline processing in an industrial plant, to enable remanufacturing.

In WP4 Apollon will use a module design that results in reduced bill of materials, enables remanufacturing and reuse of components from modules that showed failures after assembly or have been identified as malfunctioning in operating PV installations, based on integrated diagnosis techniques for the detection of failure modes.bifa will collect data from all previous WPs to assess environmental impact of the intended innovations (WP5).

Bifa will identify waste streams that are costly and hard to recycle and find opportunities to repurpose those waste products. BCC will disseminate the results and will support the partners with the exploitation and replication potential of the results (WP6).

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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/679692
Start date: 10-01-2015
End date: 30-09-2018
Total budget - Public funding: 5 642 708,00 Euro - 5 642 708,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

EcoSolar envisions an integrated value chain to manufacture and implement solar panels in the most ecologic way by maximising resource efficiency, taking into account reuse of materials during production and repurposing solar panel components at end of life stage. EcoSolar will demonstrate that during the lifetime of a solar electricity producing field, individual panels can be monitored, allowing to identify defaulting panels at an early stage, replacing or repairing them and thus to increase the overall energy yield.
In WP1, SINTEF&Norsun will work on recovery & reuse during silicon ingot crystallisation, addressing recovery of argon purge gas and work with Steuler on reusable crucibles. In WP2 Garbo will recover Si-kerf-loss during wafering, and with SINTEF work on potential reuse applications, like as Si-feedstock in crystallisation processes, or as resource in crucible manufacturing or lithium ion battery production. In WP3, ISC&SoliTek will look into potential for re-using process water; reducing material resources, like chemicals and silver, by smarter solar cell design, more efficient processes and recovery and reuse of chemicals; AIMEN will develop solar cell monitoring and repair for inline processing in an industrial plant, to enable remanufacturing. In WP4 Apollon will use a module design that results in reduced bill of materials, enables remanufacturing and reuse of components from modules that showed failures after assembly or have been identified as malfunctioning in operating PV installations, based on integrated diagnosis techniques for the detection of failure modes.
bifa will collect data from all previous WPs to assess environmental impact of the intended innovations (WP5). Bifa will identify waste streams that are costly and hard to recycle and find opportunities to repurpose those waste products. BCC will disseminate the results and will support the partners with the exploitation and replication potential of the results (WP6).

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

FoF-13-2015

Update Date

27-10-2022
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Factories of the Future Partnership - Made in Europe Partnership

H2020 - Factories of the Future
H2020-FoF-2015
FoF-13-2015 Re-use and remanufacturing technologies and equipment for sustainable product lifecycle management
Research & Innovation Action (RIA)
Environmental sustainability
Material efficiency
Reduction of material consumption (in %)
80
Comment: High pure argon purge gas is normally vented after entering the furnace. Argon gas recycling rate of 95% has been achiecved. Silicon nitride crucibles can be reused compared to conventional silica-based crucible which can be only used once.
Waste minimisation
Reduction of waste (in %)
80
Comment: High pure argon purge gas is normally vented after entering the furnace. Argon gas recycling rate of 95% has been achiecved. Silicon nitride crucibles can be reused compared to conventional silica-based crucible which can be only used once.
Reducing emissions in manufacturing processes
Reduction of CO2 emissions (in %)
75
Comment: Reduction of CO2 through argon gas recycling and reusable crucibles.
Reducing the consumption of energy
Reduction of energy consumption (in %)
50
Comment: Reduction of energy consumption through argon gas recycling and reusable crucibles.
Advanced material processing technologies
Comment: Eco-Solar project web site: http://ecosolar.eu.com/
High productivity and “self assembly” technologies development of conventional (joining, forming, machining) and new micro/nano-manufacturing processes
Methods for handling of parts, metrology and inspection
Replication, Equipment for flexible scalable prod/Assembly , Coatings
Recycling processes
Innovative physical, chemical and physicochemical processes
Mechatronics and robotics technologies
Measurement, sensing, condition and performance monitoring technologies
Energy technologies
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.2. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP
H2020-EU.2.1. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
H2020-EU.2.1.5. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing
H2020-EU.2.1.5.1. Technologies for Factories of the Future
H2020-FoF-2015
FoF-13-2015 Re-use and remanufacturing technologies and equipment for sustainable product lifecycle management