Program
Sustainable Solar Europe 2023

After one year of hard work, this session will unveil the final design of the Solar Stewardship Initiative: the SSI Code finalised after the multi-stakeholder consultation and the pilot programme, the SSI governance with civil society participation, an effective stakeholder grievance mechanism, a transparent claims guide and an assurance system based on independent audits.

With the legislative procedures on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Forced Labour Ban well underway, the panel will discuss how the SSI can be a reference tool for the industry and other stakeholders to effectively address human rights and environmental impacts across the global solar value chain.

The panel will show how European innovation is shaping sustainable PV technologies, contributing to the future of the solar industry. It will bring together representatives from

five EU-funded projects - RESiLEX, TRUSTPV, PHOTORAMA, CIRCUSOL, and ICARUS- that will discuss the unique role of shaping a sustainable solar industry, related to recycling silicon from old PV panels, improving the performance and reliability of solar PV components, developing circular business models for the industry, and transforming waste streams into secondary raw materials. The aim of the session will entail depicting how the EU projects fit into the larger picture of creating a more sustainable and efficient solar industry in Europe.

More particular the session will cover the following topics:  
 - The importance of innovation in shaping a sustainable solar industry
 - Challenges and opportunities that arise with developing sustainable solar technologies 
 - The role of collaboration and cross-sectoral partnerships in advancing sustainable solutions for the solar industry
 - Q&A that will give the audience the possibility to know more about the projects and how innovation will impact the future of the industry

This session will delve into the upcoming EU regulatory measures for PV modules and inverters – Ecodesign and Energy Label, which should be finalised by early 2024. Further, the session will focus on further EU action on solar sustainability, in the context of the Green Deal Industrial Plan (GDIP) and the Net-Zero Industry Act, addressing the question of whether, and how, sustainability can support EU manufacturing

The session will highlight the importance of creating a sustainable and circular solar industry in Europe, with a particular focus on restoring the value chain for PV. With the increasing demand for renewable energy sources, it is crucial to consider the entire life cycle of PV systems, from raw material extraction to end-of-life management. The session will explore how to integrate circularity principles right from the beginning of the PV value chain.

PV technology is comprised of a number of materials and components, such as glass, silicon, plastic, aluminum, steel and cement. The environmental characteristics of each of these components have an effect on the overall sustainability performance of solar technology. This session will explore the sustainability challenges and opportunities in some of the sectors connected to PV manufacturing and its key components. We will discuss how intersectoral and supply chain cooperation can contribute to reducing solar environmental footprint.

Opening part: launch of floating PV report

Multiple use of space is essential to maximise land-use efficiency, mitigate land constraint issues and tackle climate crisis while ensuring preservation and protection of natural ecosystems. This session will explore the multiple use of land and water potential and discuss the next steps needed to accelerate the deployment of agrivoltaics and floating PV.

Solar technologies have unique features at their end-of-life stage. Current recycling processes for solar panels allow for a technical recycling yield of up to 90% by weight, while the current EU legislation, the WEEE Directive, already requires recycling of solar panels. With an anticipated multi-TW growth of solar capacity in the EU to meet climate, energy and security ambitions, optimising end-of-life management practices in the solar industry becomes a crucial task. This session will explore the latest developments across end-of-life practices for solar, including recycling, reuse, and repowering, from the perspective of different stakeholders in the sector.