The project partners

SENS eRecycling
As an expert in the sustainable recycling of discarded electrical and electronic appliances in and around the home, lamps and luminaires, photovoltaic systems and vehicle and industrial batteries, the SENS Foundation makes a decisive contribution to setting forward-looking standards in eRecycling. It conserves resources and thus makes an important contribution to environmental protection. The services provided by the SENS take-back system are financed through the market-compliant advanced recycling contribution (ARC). SENS eRecycling is a member of Swiss Recycling and the global competence centre for e-waste, WEEE Forum. Together with the Bern University of Applied Sciences and Swissolar, SENS eRecycling was involved in the development of the project and is mainly responsible for the development of the business model, the creation of the basis for module tracking and communication.

Swissolar
Swissolar is the Swiss trade association for solar energy. It represents the interests of over 1,000 association members with more than 10,000 jobs in public, in politics and vis-à-vis the regulating authorities. Every year, the sun supplies Switzerland with 200 times more energy than we need. Swissolar is committed to an energy supply without the use of fossil or nuclear energy sources. Heat and electricity from the sun play a central role in this. Swissolar, together with the Bern University of Applied Sciences and SENS eRecycling, was involved in the development of the project and is mainly responsible for the work package on political recommendations for action.

Bern University of Applied Sciences
The Bern University of Applied Sciences has core competencies in teaching and continuing education, but also in research and development and consulting. The Department of Technology & Information Technology involved in the project aims to create new knowledge by networking knowledge. In order to grasp the interrelationships between disciplines and make them usable in practice, it incorporates interdisciplinary knowledge into its courses of study and uses computer-aided methods for various engineering disciplines. Applied research is conducted in nine institutes, which together cover a broad spectrum of competencies. This bridges the gap between basic research and product development and ensures close cooperation with industry. New technologies and the know-how gained from research and industrial projects are transferred to industry and shared with partners to develop new products and processes. Against this background, the Bern University of Applied Sciences initiated the SwissPVcircle project together with SENS eRecycling and Swissolar. The main responsibility of the Bern University of Applied Sciences lies in the development of a circularity database for the Swiss solar industry, the related forecasting of material flows and a market analysis for the resale of 2nd-life PV modules.

Reiling
As part of the Reiling group of companies, Reiling PV-Recycling GmbH & Co. KG offers its B2B customers a holistic recycling solution for end-of-life silicon-based PV modules: PV recycling and testing for reuse. With more than 15 years of experience in PV recycling, Reiling dedicates itself to this challenging task with the highest level of commitment and professional know-how. In addition, PV modules that are still visually intact can be tested for performance and electrical safety using our own testing equipment at the ElektroG-certified PV recycling site in Münster. A nationwide transport network enables the company to provide customers with the best possible support when collecting the modules. These primarily include PV module manufacturers, solar park operators, EPCs, O&M providers and installers as well as companies, dealers and collection systems. Due to the long-standing and close cooperation with KWB Planreal AG, Reiling shares its experience and expertise in the project with regard to testing for reuse and recycling of PV modules in the business model development. 

Helion
As one of the most innovative energy solution companies in Switzerland, Helion has set itself the goal of actively promoting the new energy world. To this end, Helion offers all solutions for the energy transition from a single source: we implement projects in the areas of photovoltaics, electricity storage, smart energy, heat pumps and charging stations for electric vehicles - in every dimension, including consulting, planning, installation and maintenance. Since 1 November 2022, Helion has belonged to AMAG Group AG and, as the legal entity Helion Energy AG, to the AMAG Energy & Mobility division. This enables Helion to be close to and responsive to its own customers, to remain agile and flexible, and at the same time to benefit from the support of a national group. Within the SwissPVcircle project, Helion is contributing its knowledge in the areas of business model development and market analysis for PV module reuse as well as module tracking.

Meyer Burger
Meyer Burger is a globally established technology company specialising in innovative systems and production equipment for the solar industry. With almost 70 years of company history and 40 years of experience in photovoltaics, Meyer Burger forms the technological backbone of the industry and has set significant standards over the past decades - from diamond wire saws to industrial PERC solutions and precision measurement technology for solar modules. Meyer Burger started producing high-performance solar cells and modules in 2021. Its proprietary Heterojunction/SmartWire technology enables the company to set new standards in terms of energy yield. With solar cells and modules developed in Switzerland and manufactured in Germany under sustainable conditions, Meyer Burger aims to grow into a leading European photovoltaic company. The company currently employs around 1300 people at research facilities in Switzerland, development and manufacturing facilities in Germany and sales locations in Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia. In the project, Meyer Burger is involved in the development of the database and the tracking of PV modules throughout their life cycle, contributing its know-how as a manufacturer.

KWB
KWB Planreal AG is a family-owned company based in Switzerland, which has been active in various recycling sectors for many years. The recycling economy is given absolute priority. For example, KWB Planreal AG is the first Swiss company to be active in the recycling of old PV modules, where KWB Planreal AG has been commissioned by Sens eRecycling to recycle old PV modules. The recycling is successfully carried out in every respect in cooperation with Reiling PV-Recycling GmbH & Co. KG. The reuse of old PV modules at the end of their first life cycle is also to take place in the future. In this context, KWB Planreal AG is involved in R&D (Research and Development) with various companies and institutes to ensure that the company is at the cutting edge of technology. At the moment, a new recycling plant for old PV modules is planned in Switzerland with, among other things, integrated reuse technology from functioning old PV modules. This plant, operated by a Swiss company, is attracting a great deal of interest. In this respect, KWB Planreal AG is involved in the project in the development and elaboration of the business models as well as in the area of the resale of 2nd-life PV modules.

CKW
The CKW Group is a leading Swiss provider of integrated energy and building technology solutions. For over 125 years, the company has been supplying electricity to its now over 200,000 end customers from the cantons of Lucerne and Schwyz. It also offers innovative products and services throughout Switzerland in the fields of electricity, photovoltaics, heating technology, e-mobility, building automation, ICT solutions and security. The CKW Group employs around 2000 people throughout Switzerland, including around 330 apprentices in 14 professions. It is the largest private-sector training company in Central Switzerland. CKW is part of the Axpo Group and, together with its parent company, is implementing an ambitious strategy for the expansion of renewable energies in Switzerland. As a project partner, CKW is involved in the project within various work packages. As one of the leading solar installers in Central Switzerland, CKW has valuable expertise that can be brought into the relevant working groups, with a focus on reuse and module tracking.

3S
3S Swiss Solar Solutions develops and produces building products that generate energy. Behind this is a team led by Swiss solar pioneer Patrick Hofer-Noser. The ETH engineer with Speuz and a vision developed the product "MegaSlate" with his company. The solar modules are not mounted on the roof, but integrated directly into the building envelope – the roof, the façade or the balcony railing. They are available in different dimensions, can be used in a variety of ways and are available in different colours. They are thus tiles, balcony railings or façade elements – and as such additionally produce electricity. The MegaSlate solar modules are developed and manufactured in Switzerland. And they are CO2-neutral and comply with Swiss environmental regulations. MegaSlate combines pioneering spirit, modern aesthetics, 100% Swissness and ecological responsibility. Within the SwissPVcircle project, 3S Swiss Solar Solutions is involved in the areas of module tracking, forecasting and database development.