A European team, led by the research institute VITO, is developing technologies and processes to reuse end-of-life (EoL) solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle (EV) batteries as distributed energy solutions. The project, called Solmate, aims to demonstrate three market segments: agrivoltaics, plug-in PV for households, and low-budget solutions. The team is also working on efficient recycling processes for critical raw materials recovered from panels and batteries that cannot be reused. The project has secured €6.1 million in funding from the European Union Horizon initiative and is expected to complete its 4-year duration in January 2028.
European consortium revamps second-hand PV panels and EV batteries for agrivoltaics, plug-and-play solar applications, and low-cost initiatives worldwide.
