Creating Sustainable Solutions for Photovoltaics

Aiming to achieve a low-emission to zero-emission building stock across the European Union by the year 2050, the legislative bodies of the EU have established new requirements regarding the energy efficiency performance of buildings. Recently conducted research on solar energy systems and materials has yielded promising opportunities for sustainable energy solutions, which do not only consider environmental issues but also allow aesthetic design possibilities. These new research findings are expected to play a crucial role in coping with the issue of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) including Photovoltaic (PV) waste. While ever-increasing amounts of PV panel waste constitute a serious environmental threat, they can also be seen as a potential source for new business fields and future ways to create value. This paper covers the visions of two European projects: FP7 SolarDesign (regarding Building Integrated Photovoltaics solutions for both new and historic buildings as well as freely shaped building surfaces) and H2020 CABRISS (which aims to establish a more circular economy and reuse for photovoltaic products). Proactive involvement of European standardization bodies helped the market obtain substantiated results.