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Recycling focus: ‘PV CYCLE today and tomorrow’ interview with President, Dr. Karsten Wambach

back Category: Interviews PV CYCLE Recycling of Solar PV modules Date: 2010/02/04

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SolarPV.TV team attended the 1st International Conference on PV module recycling organized by PV CYCLE and EPIA in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.

We had the opportunity to learn first-hand from different industry associations and companies what is currently being done to implement recycling mechanisms and to minimise the environmental impact of end-of-life solar panels.

We were lucky to speak with some of the main actors and organisers at the event and we discussed amongst other things..... Action Plan for 2010, Double Green, PVCycle membership benefits and the challenges facing the recycling of PV modules.

Today we are bringing you our first interview with PV CYCLE's President, Dr. Karsten Wambach, one of “fathers” of the association.

During the conference we did the following interviews, which are being uploaded constantly on SolarPV.TV:

"PV Cycle today and tomorrow", Dr. Karsten Wambach, President of PV CYCLE
"Making the Photovoltaic Industry 'Double Green'", Jan Clyncke, Managing Director of PV CYCLE
Recycling per Module Technology - State-of-the-Art
- Thin Film
  - "First Solar’s Collection and Recycling Program", Interview with Lisa Krueger, VP Sustainable Development, First Solar
  - "Major challenges in recycling of thin film modules", Marc Suys, EH&S Manager, 5N Plus
- Crystaline
  - "Major challenges related to recycling of Solar PV modules", Dr. Sylke Schlenker, Head of Marketing, Sunicon AG
Recycling activities in USA
- "US should follow efforts started by PV CYCLE in Europe", Prof. Vasilis Fthenakis, Head, National Photovoltaic EH&S Research Center at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Recycling experiences from other sectors, with:
- "Differences in recycling of Solar PV modules and electronic sector", Thierry Dalle Business Development and Project Manager, Umicore Recycling Solutions
- "Synergies between TV monitor recycling and Solar PV", Dr. Eckart Doering - Manager Batch Supply, Glass Ceramics & Borofloat at Schott AG

To watch all the interviews just click here

Who is Dr. Karsten Wambach?

President of PV CYCLE and COO of Sunicon

Dr. Karsten Wambach, since last year holds COO's position at Sunicon, a 100% subsidiary of SolarWorld.

Before joining Sunicon, he has been SolarMaterial’s division and profit center manager within Deutsche Solar AG since June of 2001.

As a PhD Chemist, Dr. Wambach was previously manager of module development at Flabeg Solar International, Ltd. where he worked in production technology in the development and qualification of new module types, electrical connectors and PV materials. He also previously worked on refinement processes for silicon at Bayer AG in Krefeld. Since 1992, he has worked with the recycling of solar modules and is acting president of PC CYCLE Association A.I.S.B.L in Brussels. The union, in which leading solar companies are active, is currently establishing a voluntary redemption system for solar modules on the European level. He is the German speaker for the workgroup PVPS Task 12 of the International Energy Agency.

More about PV CYCLE

Making Photovoltaics "Double Green"

PV CYCLE was founded in July 2007 to implement the photovoltaic industry’s commitment to set up a voluntary take back and recycling programme for end-of-life-modules and to take responsibility for PV modules throughout their entire value chain.

PV modules are designed to generate clean, renewable energy for over 25 years. With the first significant installations in the early 1990s, full-scale end-of-life recycling is still another 10-15 years away.

Nevertheless, the PV industry is working to create truly sustainable energy solutions that take into consideration the environmental impacts of all stages of the product life cycle, from raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling. Although the PV industry is young, leading manufacturers embrace the concept of producer responsibility and have come together to put in place a voluntary, industry-wide take-back and recycling programme. By addressing future recycling needs now, we can offer a truly sustainable energy solution today to help prevent climate change tomorrow.

Through PV Cycle, the photovoltaic industry wants to install an overall waste management and recycling policy which achieves the highest economically feasible and environmentally responsible collection and recycling of PV modules.

2003 - 2005: First Steps

In 2003, the first publications on waste treatment, WEEE, life cycle issues and voluntary take back systems were released; with the kind support of JRC, IES and EPIA. In the same year, the first Ökopol Study on waste treatment of modules was published.

In 2004, Workshops on waste, LCA, WEEE and Take-back-systems took place and further work was achieved in SP6 of the EU project “CRYSTAL CLEAR“.

In 2005, the first PV CYCLE initiative was started (supported by EPIA and BSW) and the working group PV CYCLE was created. Simultaneously, the first initiatives for IEA PVPS Task 12 were started.

2006 - 2008: Concrete Progress

In 2006, preparations went into a more concrete phase: Drafts of Statutes and Business Plans were made.

In 2007, a comprehensive Study about the recycling of PV-modules was prepared, providing a detailed knowledge basis. On 5th July 2007, the association PV CYCLE was founded in Brussels.

In April 2008, the PV CYCLE Office was opened in the premises of the Renewable Energy House in Brussels.

Since September 2008, a dedicated, interdisciplinary Working Group comprised of representatives of our members is currently defining the specific objectives and cornerstones of a voluntary agreement.

Presentation about PV CYCLE

PVCYCLE public 09 2009sec (1.5 MB)
PVCYCLE 09 2009 Frenchsec (2.0 MB)
PVCYCLE public 09 2009 IT Finalsec (1.5 MB)

More about Sunicon

Sunicon AG takes on the strategic task of testing alternative competitive procedural approaches to the manufacturing of solar silicon and its development with partners in order to ensure on a long-term basis the silicon demands of the SolarWorld Corporation. In the process, it supports both the joint venture Joint Solar Silicon GmbH & Co. KG and Scheuten SolarWorld Solicium GmbH in the development and implementation of new processes to manufacture solar silicon.

Sunicon AG integrated all silicon activities at Freiberg in April, 2009. Therefore, Sunicon AG has in its possession processes for the entire closure of raw material cycling of all materials, which are processed in a PV module. Because, on account of their early business construction and globally increasing amounts of secondary raw materials, today, SolarWorld AG - with their location in Freiberg is the market leader in recycling.

Comprehensive research caters for a constant know-how of process development and the expansion of new technologies. At present, no other company has such a broad range of technologies for the recycling of the most diverse products, that start with solar and semiconductor refuse, as well as off-spec and cavings of semiconductors, wafers and cell production to finished modules.

SolarWorld is a member of the European "PV Cycle" founded in 2007, the scope of which consists of photovoltaic manufacturers developing a mutual recycling practice and policy for their products. Amongst these are a voluntary reversal system for modules, information on plant proprietors and manufacturers as well as research on sustainable production processes. Solar cell and module manufacturers, which cover approximately 70 to 80 percent of the European market, on one hand bring the solar branch into line with the goals of the European waste policy and the expected legal development. On another hand, they create a positive environment for the branch growth.

PV CYCLE Full Members: