Project description
The rapid expansion of photovoltaic systems is a key factor in the energy transition, but it also presents new challenges. One such challenge is knowing how to deal with the millions of PV modules that will reach the end of their service life in the coming years.
Currently, disused modules are typically recycled without first checking whether they can be reused. Until now, there have been no automated processes in place to make objective decisions.
This is precisely where the new research project comes in, asking the question, “Watts OK? - Can the module be reused, or should it be recycled?”
Coordinated by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, the research project addresses the growing volume of used PV modules and lays the technological foundation for their systematic reuse. The project focuses on reusing PV modules with the help of robotics and artificial intelligence.
At the heart of the project lies an intelligent, automated process that determines whether used PV modules can be reused or need to be recycled. This process includes:
- AI-supported optical inspection procedures to check surface quality
- precise electrical measurements to check functionality.
The process is complemented by the robot-assisted replacement of connectors, which is an initial refurbishment step that makes the modules usable again.
A central role in this process is played by a database that links inspection data, measured values and product specifications. Not only does this database serve as the basis for the AI algorithms, it also ensures transparency and traceability of decisions.
