The PV Afterlife Begins with Data

As solar deployment accelerates, millions of PV modules will reach their end of life in the coming decades. APOLLO tackles this challenge by developing the Digital Product Passport (DPP) — a data system that traces every module’s materials, performance, and recyclability to turn solar waste into new value.

The DPP gives each solar panel a digital identity, storing information on:

• material composition,

• manufacturing and use-phase data,

• repairability and recycling potential.

In APOLLO, these data enable smarter design and circular manufacturing — supporting a shift from ~18% to 93% material recovery rates in pilot tests.

By linking data with recycling, APOLLO demonstrates how traceability drives circularity — transforming PV panels from waste to renewable resources.