First Solar Careers’ Post

What is currently challenging the Circular Economy transition in the European solar industry? pv magazine Global has summarized the key findings on our recent study published in Journal of Cleaner Production , pointing to End-of-Life PV module exports to non-European countries, insufficient value chain collaboration, unpredictable volumes for reuse and recycling, and a poor exchange of information. What are potential pathways to counterattack these gaps? 1. Preparing PV modules for #reuse: Check out our project Swiss PV circle (https://lnkd.in/eV6dXHSx) which aims at establishing data-enhanced reuse business models for PVs in Switzerland. 2. PV #recycling and material recovery: Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen BFH and SoliTek are both involved in the Horizon 2020 project RETRIEVE (https://lnkd.in/euSEajc2) which focuses on reintegrating PV panel waste back into manufacturing as high value products 3. Digitizing the value chain: Both projects are engaged in investigating digital technologies and platforms for promoting information sharing along the value chain. Feel free to reach out for questions. Special thanks to Tristan Rayner for the article! Roger Nyffenegger Tadas Radavičius Berner Fachhochschule, Technik und Informatik Technische Universität Berlin Find the study here: https://lnkd.in/eUDCaQ-B https://lnkd.in/eRAhVHFj

### Sustainability in the Foundry Industry: AKP's Green Commitment At AKP, we're leading the way in sustainable foundry practices. We currently operate with 90% green power, with 12% of our energy coming from our solar investments. By 2030, we aim to be fully powered by green energy. Additionally, we have planted over 800 trees around our plants and have worked on two large water rejuvenation projects. For global commodity managers, integrating sustainable suppliers like AKP into your sourcing strategy can enhance your company's environmental credentials, achieve regulatory compliance, and improve brand reputation. Partner with us to contribute to a greener supply chain while meeting your business goals. Connect with AKP to learn more about our sustainable initiatives and support your sustainability objectives. www.akpferrocast.com #Sustainability #SupplyChain #GreenEnergy #RenewableEnergy

Embracing circular economy solutions in the renewable materials sector Navigating the transition to a circular economy within the renewables sector is steeped in challenges ranging from feedstock dilemmas to production efficiency and regulatory hurdles, but new innovations in waste-to-materials technologies may provide a path forward. What do you think about this article on the challenges and opportunities circularity presents for the renewable materials sector? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/dP2dvPpu #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Plastic

News You May Have Missed - Environment+Energy Leader In our rapidly evolving world, staying informed about the latest developments in environmental sustainability is paramount for businesses, innovators, and individuals alike. Here are some highlights you may have missed: 🌐 Sustainable Bond Issuance Projected to Near $1 Trillion in 2024: A recent report from S&P Global predicts a significant upsurge in sustainable bonds, potentially reaching $1.05 trillion. This growth not only underscores the financial sector's commitment to sustainability but also forecasts a broader diversification in bond types and regional engagement. 🌐Project Canary & CSU Collaboration on Emissions Measurement: In an exciting development, Project Canary and Colorado State University have unveiled a web-based tool for precise emissions tracking. This breakthrough supports transparent emissions visualization at the site level, propelling environmental monitoring forward. 🌐Salzgitter AG & Octopus Energy Partnership for Solar Power: Two industry giants have joined forces to revolutionize steel production. Through this partnership, Salzgitter Group will receive clean electricity from Octopus Energy, marking a significant stride towards decarbonizing one of the most energy-intensive industries. 🌐GE Vernova & Itron, Inc. Collaboration for Grid Management System: As renewable energy options burgeon, managing the grid becomes more complex. The collaboration between GE Vernova and Itron aims to simplify this with a software solution designed to accommodate the dynamic nature of renewables within our power grids. 🌐Walmart Hits Gigaton Emissions Avoidance Goal Early: Walmart's ambitious initiative to reduce emissions across its supply chain has achieved its goal ahead of schedule. 🌐Vineyard Wind 1 Turbine Delivers Power to New England Grid: The New England power grid is now greener thanks to the Vineyard Wind 1 project. This milestone demonstrates the potential of offshore wind to substantially contribute to our energy mix, powering thousands of homes with zero-emissions energy. 🌐Using Banana Peel Films as an Eco-Friendly Answer to Plastic Pollution: An innovative approach to tackling plastic pollution involves using banana peel films for packaging. This research could pave the way for more biodegradable alternatives in the fight against plastic waste. 🌐Asia-Pacific's Potential as a Global Clean Energy Leader: A recent report highlights the Asia-Pacific region's burgeoning role in the global transition to clean energy, with projections pointing to significant technological advancements by 2050. Catch up on these articles & more today: https://lnkd.in/emqQKJfV #solar #news #technology #media #cleanenergy #esg #globalcollaboration #emissions #gridmodernization #plasticwaste #plastic #energy

80% of Solar Panels Reaching End-Of-Life Are Thrown in Landfills (NREL). How can the solar industry tackle its waste problem and work toward a circular economy? 🌍 NICO JOHNSON 🎙️ sat down with Kelly Weger, Director of Sustainability at Qcells North America at RE+ Northeast to discuss their mission to lower embodied carbon and reduce waste throughout the solar lifecycle. ♻️🔄 Expect to learn: - How Qcells is reducing embodied carbon throughout their supply chain, from material sourcing to end-of-life recycling. 🏭 - The strategy behind Qcells and SolarCycle’s circular economy superhero team-up. - What it will take to create a true circular economy in solar, a vision Qcells is actively working towards. - How certification standards like EPEAT validate a company’s sustainability claims. - How much Qcells has invested in their wafer manufacturing facility in Georgia (it’s a massive number). 💸 Qcells is examining their lifecycle from cradle to gate and cradle to grave. From how their materials are sourced and transported to the suppliers they choose and the operational practices within their facilities, Qcells is working towards circularity. A circular economy is not a far-off pipe dream, but to get there, we’ll need to be far more intentional with how we manufacture PV modules and handle their end-of-life. Watch the full conversation linked in the comments 👇 Share your thoughts and insights on how we can collectively push for a circular economy in the solar industry. #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower

💡 Promising #innovations in the renewable materials sector are paving the way for a #circulareconomy ♻️, focusing on #sustainable resource management and minimizing waste. Advances in waste-to-materials technologies and regulatory collaborations are driving towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. 🌱 Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dP2dvPpu #wastemanagement #Sustainability #ResourceManagement

⚙️ Did you know that 95% of the raw materials for our products are sourced from within Europe? ⚡ We power our production to 100% with electricity sourced from renewable energy. ♻ 99.5% of the generated waste in our production is sorted and recycled back into circular material flows. 📦 We strive to reduce carbon emissions. One way is by keeping stock at our subsidiaries for efficient planning of transport. 📊 ✨ We have summarised our sustainability work in our sustainability report for 2023! 🔗 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d2Es-54D #sunfab #madeinsweden #hydraulicpumps #hydraulicmotors #sustainability

Filtrona is boosting #sustainability with #ZeroWaste, renewable energy, and #GenderDiversity initiatives, while strengthening governance.

♻ Embracing the circular economy: turning photovoltaic waste into valuable resources 🚀 The fast-growing #photovoltaic sector faces an increasing demand for materials and the imminent challenge of managing photovoltaic waste, which is expected to reach 60 to 78 million tonnes by 2050. ROSI is playing a pioneering and key role in the production of circulat materials from photovoltaic waste, while ensuring that the environmental footprint remains as low as possible. 💡 ROSI's vision goes beyond reintroducing the circular materials in the photovoltaic #industry, envisioning broader material circularity in #energy intensive industries such as semiconductors, specialty chemicals, and many more. By reintegrating reclaimed materials into various sectors, ROSI is one of the industry leaders. ✨ The implementation of the CE-RISE Project system, a robust information platform for supply chain visibility and transparency, it ensures the traceability and communication of low environmental impact materials, promoting a sustainable future for all. 🗞 Discover further in the recent article of the CE-RISE project written by ROSI colleagues Ms Caterin Salas Redondo and Ms Hsin-Hsin Fan #CircularEconomy #EU #greentransition

One can see that the most carbon-intensive (and by extension probably the hardest to abate completely) sectors in Temasek's portfolio are: 1. International aviation (SIA) 2. Power generation / Utilities (Sembcorp Industries) - 3. Agriculture (Olam Group) 4. Port operations (PSA International) 5. Data centres (ST Telemedia) "Temasek provided the figures on Tuesday (Jul 9) in its first sustainability report at the launch of its annual Temasek Review, where it announced S$389 billion in total net portfolio value as of Mar 31. In the last financial year, S$3 billion of investments were added to its sustainability portfolio, covering areas such as food, water, waste, energy, materials, clean transport and the built environment. Its latest investments include electric vehicle companies Mahindra Electric Automobile in India and BYD in China, sustainable battery solutions provider Ascend Elements and electrolyser manufacturer Electric Hydrogen, both in the US. In May, Temasek also partnered with Canadian fund Brookfield to buy out Neoen, a France-based renewable energy company. Its climate transition investments cover high-emitting sectors looking to transition to climate-friendly products and services, such as Sembcorp Industries and Danish gas company Topsoe. Temasek said it has so far reduced net carbon emissions attributable to its portfolio by 5 per cent from 2010 levels. By 2030, it hopes to halve it from 2010 levels to 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) and by 2050, to achieve net zero emissions." "Five companies – Singapore Airlines (SIA), Sembcorp Industries, Olam Group, PSA International and ST Telemedia – contributed around 80 per cent of Temasek's total portfolio emissions. These five companies comprise 10 per cent of its portfolio value. These are businesses within industries that face "inherent decarbonisation challenges", Temasek said, adding that the companies have made significant progress in recent years."