June 28, 2021, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET: Workshop: Photovoltaic Systems End-of-Life

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is hosting a virtual workshop on photovoltaics system components end-of-life (PV EOL) to understand the current state of PV EOL and the technical barriers to sustainable handling of PV EOL. The workshop will feature panels and breakout discussion groups with stakeholders from the PV industry, waste management industry, research laboratories, government agencies, and related organizations to have a dialogue on opportunities and barriers to the development of sustainable practices for PV EOL. Topics will include data and analysis for understanding PV EOL, and technology developments to lower the environmental impact and cost of processing PV EOL. All system components (modules, power electronics, racking, trackers, and wiring) that make up a PV system will be considered in this workshop.

Read the summarized findings from this workshop. 

Workshop Agenda

Time

Session
10:30 - 11:10 a.m.

Introductions and Overview

  • Welcome and SETO Overview
  • Workshop logistics
  • SETO EOL Perspective
11:10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion and Q&A:
PV EOL Handling - Current Status and Future Opportunities

This session will focus on establishing the current state of PV EOL handling, and the opportunities and benefits of changing how EOL is handled.

Panelists:
Garvin Heath (National Renewable Energy Lab)
Kathy Lett (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Becky Campbell (First Solar)
Matthew Kavanagh (SunPower)
Chris Stearns (Cascade Eco Minerals)
12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Lunch
12:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Breakout:
PV EOL Handling

This breakout session will tackle questions on industry experiences with PV EOL, and how PV EOL is handled could be impacted by technology developments or technical assistance.
1:45 - 2:00 p.m.

Break
2:00 - 2:50 p.m.

Panel Discussion and Q&A:
PV EOL Data - Analysis and Tools

This session will cover the data that is available to study PV EOL and what resources could be developed using data analysis.

Panelists:
Evelyn Butler (Solar Energy Industries Association)
Michael Groves (Topolytics)
Taylor Curtis (National Renewable Energy Lab)
Silvana Ovaitt (DuraMAT/National Renewable Energy Lab)
2:50 - 4:05 p.m.

Breakout:
PV EOL Data - Resources to Reduce EOL Impact

In this breakout, we are looking for feedback on what kind of data would be useful for better understanding PV EOL properties, and what types of analysis using available data would be useful for reducing environmental impact and handling costs of PV EOL.

4:05 - 4:20 p.m.

Ending Remarks and Closing

 

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