A Meaningful Milestone: The Final Swiss PV Circle Project Meeting

After 18 months of intensive collaboration, the third and final meeting of the Swiss PV Circle project took place at SENS eRecycling. The project team presented key findings on the reuse and life cycle of photovoltaic (PV) modules in Switzerland.

The event began with a presentation by Ässia Boukhatmi from the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), who introduced the final database model and demonstrated a prototype platform designed to facilitate future trading of second-hand PV modules. She also presented a new forecasting model for end-of-life PV volumes, which – unlike previous studies – is based on data from actual dismantled systems. According to Swiss PV Circle, between 23,000 and 90,000 tonnes of PV modules are expected to be decommissioned by 2050.

Practical Guide for the Industry

Roger Nyffenegger from BFH introduced a practical Reuse Guide developed specifically for installation companies. Structured in four chronological steps, the guide outlines the process for reusing PV modules: an initial economic assessment to evaluate profitability, followed by a technical evaluation to determine testing requirements, then on-site testing and dismantling, and – if necessary – advanced inspections to assess safety, lifespan and performance.

Economics and Sustainability

Michael Gasser of Volutio, speaking on behalf of SENS eRecycling, presented findings on the economic and ecological potential of reuse. While there is clear economic potential – with modules accounting for 17–37% of the cost of a new PV system – reuse currently remains viable only in niche markets. This is largely due to the low prices of new modules: testing costs for reused modules range from 11 to 40 centimes per watt-peak (depending on quantity and type), compared with new module prices of 13 to 28 centimes per watt-peak. From an ecological standpoint, however, reuse is often the more sustainable option, though each case must be evaluated individually.

Cautious Market for Used PV Modules

In addition, a market analysis explored current demand for second-hand modules. As Roger Nyffenegger explained, used modules are currently employed mainly in small-scale applications such as balcony systems or garden sheds. Complete used systems are rarely in demand – and when they are, it's typically from sustainability-driven companies or public authorities (e.g. due to solar mandates). A non-representative survey of Helion customers revealed that certified quality, competitive pricing and high remaining performance are key to making reuse an attractive option.

Policy Recommendations

Finally, Fabio Giddey from Swissolar presented policy recommendations to support reuse. These include the introduction of a sector-supported, advance reuse fee – similar to the existing recycling contribution – and a reuse bonus as an addition to the current energy subsidy framework. Further recommendations relate to certification, data flows (via Pronovo), cantonal waste regulations, and systematic tracking of exports.

Swiss PV Circle will publish the detailed findings and documentation on its website shortly.

Webinar at the end of the ‘Swiss PV Circle’ project

Reusing photovoltaic modules and creating a platform for this is the focus of the ‘Swiss PV Circle’ project. The project partners Swissolar, Bern University of Applied Sciences and SENS are organising a webinar at the end of the project.

Presentation on the ‘Swiss PV Circle’ project at Sustainable Solar Europe 2024

At this year's Sustainable Solar Europe 2024 conference in Brussels, Roger Nyffenegger, a doctoral student at Bern University of Applied Sciences and Maastricht University, presented insights from the Swiss PV Circle project and discussed it with international experts on a panel.