European research institute Liten, under the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), and French technology company Roctool have launched what they call the 1st bio-based and 100% recyclable solar PV panels.
Liten, short for the Laboratory for Innovation in New Energy Technologies and Nanomaterials, and referred to as CEA-Liten, and Roctool researched on these modules for 4 months with a supply of bio-based materials and transformation tests to reach the conclusion.
Researchers are now implementing these panels with 300mm x 300mm dimension on a tool at Roctool's test center in Le Bourget-du-Lac, France. The duo said they are testing several series of panels to verify their performance and impact resistance, while also conducting aging tests of at least 1,000 hours.
The team believes the results are promising and encouraging as this process can lower the production time of panels by 4. Currently, the team is selecting raw material suppliers and aims to present the 1st prototypes by the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022.
Without sharing too many details, the researchers said combining bio-based and recyclable materials with high-performance manufacturing technology, will help reduce carbon footprint of PV panels of the future.
This research work is part of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region backed EasyPOC program that encourages high-tech innovation, providing access to key CEA technologies.
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