Horizon Europe’s Sophia Project Targets End-of-Life Solar Panel Circularity
The Sophia project, led by Spain’s Aimplas, is a major Horizon Europe initiative improving solar panel circularity.
This €multi-million effort introduces digital technologies to boost reuse, repair, and recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) panels in Europe.
By optimizing every stage in the value chain, Sophia supports the EU’s goals for a greener and more sustainable energy system.
Sophia uses a prototype to assess PV panel health quickly. It identifies efficiency loss, black spots, and physical damage.
Panels with over 80% efficiency are repaired using robots and high-performance dielectric varnishes.
Non-repairable panels are recycled with advanced methods to separate glass, silicon, metals, and plastics.
To recover more glass, the system uses in-line antimony detection to improve quality and material yield.
The project also develops eco-designed solar panels using debonding-on-demand adhesives for easy dismantling.
To enable full traceability, Sophia introduces a digital product passport (DPP) for new and repaired panels.
The system also collects data from existing panels that lack a DPP for better recycling and tracking.
Sophia officially launched on June 1 and will run for 36 months.
It involves 15 partners across Europe, including Fraunhofer, Sisecam, EuRIC, and Recyclia.
Solar Panel Circularity Enhanced by Digital Traceability and Smart Repairs
Sophia’s core innovation is digital traceability that supports true circularity for solar panels.
Aimplas notes that DPPs make identification and sorting easier, speeding up decisions on whether to repair or recycle.
This improves material recovery and raises the purity of secondary raw materials like silicon and metals.
A digital marketplace will support the sale of repaired panels and upcycled materials.
This platform, powered by DPPs, connects buyers and sellers more efficiently.
As a result, Sophia strengthens both environmental performance and commercial value in the EU’s circular economy.
It also highlights Europe’s leadership in clean-tech recycling at a time when solar waste is set to rise sharply by 2030.
SuperMetalPrice Commentary:
Sophia is a defining move in aligning renewable energy with circular economy strategies.
Digital product passports could soon become a standard across clean energy sectors like wind and battery storage.
For metals traders and recyclers, Sophia signals new streams of high-purity recovered materials entering the market.
This includes critical commodities like silicon, copper, and rare metals from PV systems.
As global solar capacity expands, Sophia’s model offers a blueprint for sustainable growth far beyond Europe.
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