Tohoku Electric Power starts PoC to facilitate the proper reuse and recycling of used solar panels

News

Tohoku Electric Power announced on August 29, 2023, that it would start a proof-of-concept (PoC) to facilitate the proper reuse and recycling of used solar panels¹. The PoC has been selected and commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment².

The PoC, to be conducted with Mitsubishi Research Institute and E&E Solutions, aims to advance energy-efficient recycling technology and improve the quality of recycling materials using digital traceability technology. The project will utilize the reuse and recycling scheme developed by PV CYCLE JAPAN.

According to Tohoku Electric Power’s press release, the companies will work together to develop a Digital Product Passport (DPP) solution. During the PoC, they will compile a database of solar panel materials, evaluate operational years of solar panels, establish sorting methods for solar panel reuse and recycling, collect power generation data of reuse panels, and evaluate the effect of reducing the environmental impact.

1. Press release by Tohoku Electric Power (Japanese) ↩︎
2. Press release by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (Japanese) ↩︎