WattsOK? Robotics and AI Enabled Reuse of PV
Short Description
The global transition to renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems, has led to the installation of over 4 billion PV modules worldwide, with exponential growth continuing. This rapid expansion, driven by climate change mitigation efforts and decreasing production costs, brings with it the critical challenge of managing end-of-life modules. As these modules will age and are upgraded to newer, more efficient technologies, there is an urgent need for efficient and effective reuse/recycling processes. Current research indicates that dismantled, used PV modules often maintain 80-90% efficiency, suggesting substantial potential for reuse. While pioneering companies in this sector already achieve 50-70% reuse rates through manual inspection and testing processes, the increasing volume of used modules demands automated solutions for economic viability.
The WattsOK? project addresses this challenge, aiming to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of reuse/recycling decision processes for used PV modules. With this, the project focusses on extending the lifetime of PV modules through reuse, reducing waste, and promoting a circular economy within the photovoltaic sector.
To achieve these objectives, WattsOK? project focusses on optimizing reuse/recycle decision processes for used PV modules via automation. The newly developed decision processes integrate optical inspection, artificial intelligence, electrical measurements, robotic handling solutions, and will align with current international standardization efforts for reusing PV modules. A central component of WattsOK?'s new reuse/recycling process is the creation of a PV inspection database that will store comprehensive test data linked to product details incl. inspection data and measurements. This database provides transparency and supporting future innovations in the field and serves as the fundament of the developed reuse/recycling decision-AI in the project. PV modules that are fit for reuse, are automatically equipped with a new connector as a first step towards reuse/refurbishing.
The automated reuse/recycling decision process will streamline the assessment and processing of used PV modules, enabling cost-effective and efficient decision-making. By reducing manual labor requirements while increasing throughput, WattsOK? will significantly improve the economic viability of PV module reuse and recycling operations. The project will also investigate potential markets for recovered materials, supporting the closure of material cycles and advancing circular economy principles.
Project Partners
Projekt leader
Nicole Brosch
AIT Austrian Insitute of Technology
Project partners
- 2nd Cycle FlexCo
- Metran Rohstoff-Aufbereitungs GmbH
- Montanuniversität Leoben - Lehrstuhl für Abfallverwertungstechnik und Abfallwirtschaft
- PROFACTOR GmbH
- TÜV AUSTRIA Holding AG
Contact Address
Nicole Brosch
AIT Austrian Insitute of Technology
Giefinggasse 4, 1210 Wien
Tel: +43 664 88256042
E-Mail: nicole.brosch@ait.ac.at
Web: www.ait.ac.at