Research projects

Swedish Participation in the International Energy Agency PVPS Task 12 - PV Sustainability

Swedish representation at the IEA PVPS Task 12, an international initiative under the International Energy Agency that promotes sustainability in the photovoltaic (PV) industry.

Description

This project, part of the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS Task 12), focuses on advancing the sustainability of photovoltaic (PV) technologies through comprehensive research and international collaboration. The Swedish representation team consists of Dalarna University, the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), and Chalmers University. The initiative addresses critical challenges across the entire PV lifecycle—from raw material extraction to end-of-life recycling—ensuring solar energy aligns with global decarbonization goals.

Key Focus Areas:

  1. Environmental Impact: Assessing PV module production, usage, and disposal to minimize ecological footprints.
  2. Circular Economy: Developing innovative strategies for material recovery, recycling, and reuse to reduce waste.
  3. Policy & Standards: Providing science-based guidelines to support sustainable PV adoption and harmonized practices in life cycle assessment (LCA) and eco-labelling.

By fostering transparent methodologies and international data sharing, the project empowers industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers to make informed decisions. Sweden’s participation underscores its commitment to clean energy innovation, ensuring PV systems contribute to a greener, more resource efficient future.

Financiers

Logotype Swedish Energy Agency
Project overview
Project Leader
Project period
2024-04-01 — 2026-04-01
Project status
Ongoing
Members
  • Burçak Ebin, Chalmers Univesity of Technology
  • Ilham Ihoume
  • Michiel van Noord, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE)