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Eco-Solar summary: process steps and impacts
Eco-Solar envisions an integrated value chain to manufacture and implement solar panels in the most ecologic way, taking into account reuse of materials while manufacturing and repurposing solar panel components at end of life stage. Moreover, the project will demonstrate that during the lifetime of a solar electricity producing PV field, individual panels can be monitored, so that defaulting panels can easily be identified and repaired or replaced.
90% of all solar modules are made as follows
Silicon feedstock is being crystallised, either via Directional Solidification (DS)- and Czochralski (Cz)-crystallisation routes. The resulting “ingots” are carved into very thin discs called “wafers”. These wafers are the basic principle for solar cell processing that will turn the slice of silicon into a device capable of converting the energy of sunlight into electricity.
When multiple solar cells, usually 6 x 10 cells, are electrically connected and packaged together, they form a solar panel, also called solar module.
Eco-Solar aims to make environmental reductions along the solar value chain