Line 3. Digital Technology Projects Industrial Research Activities

Execution period

May - 2023 - April 2024

Topic

• Digital technology
• Resilient infrastructures

Participants

• IBER-IBER SOSTENIBILIDAD Y DESARROLLO SL
• KALFRISA S.A.U.
• CIRCE FOUNDATION - Center for Research on Energy Resources and Consumption
• CLENAR - Aragon Energy Cluster (Clenar) - Aragón Energía

Grant

Project supported by call April 2023, to support AEI from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU File No. AEI-010500-2023-159.

Abstract

Photovoltaic modules contain valuable and hazardous materials, which makes their recycling economically and environmentally significant. In addition, the solar photovoltaic industry has grown considerably in recent years, and the European agency estimates that by 2030, photovoltaic scrap will have grown by more than 3,000%. There is a lack of large scale and cost-effective recycling technologies in Europe, and there is a wide variety of module designs, which require specific and different logistical approaches and, the infrastructure to transport and store the growing number is insufficient. The economic efficiency of recycling can also be difficult to achieve, due to the fluctuation in material values, which also emphasizes the safety required for this kind of work. One more requirement that could make logistics and reprocessing expensive. For this reason, EdPIC was created to investigate a profitable technological solution in pyrolysis recovery processes, where different types of photovoltaic modules will be investigated in order to characterise the flow of gases that are generated in the post combustor during that process. For this reason, EdPIC was created to investigate a profitable technological solution in pyrolysis recovery processes, where different types of photovoltaic modules will be investigated in order to characterise the flow of gases that are generated in the post combustor during that process. It is expected to obtain:(1) an ad hoc design of an electric post combustor; (2) Digital twin of the photovoltaic panel recycling process that will allow support in the operation of the process through digitalization; (3) Environmental impacts generated by the three proposed solutions (Electric post combustor vs. H2/biomass post combustor) through LCA studies based on the methodology.

Objective:

The main objective of this project is research into the electrification of a post combustor where the gases produced in the pyrolysis process are purified to minimize emissions to the atmosphere. This research has the challenge to ensure that the designed solution is technologically viable, that is, the gases do not deteriorate the equipment, making it unusable for its functions. The development of an electric post combustor has the objective of reducing the costs of its operation since it is currently powered by biomass, which has variable availability and costs throughout the year. To replace the energy source with renewable electricity has the objective of reducing costs by having a more affordable price and no transportation, as in the case of biomass. In addition, it would allow the possibility of integrating photovoltaic energy for self-consumption in the equipment.

Budget: 121.895,00 €.

Grant: 92,372.00 €.