Sustainability and circularity strategies of End-of-Life management of energy systems: Photovoltaic and Wind

Overview

The workshop titled "Sustainability and Circularity Strategies of End-of-Life Management of Energy Systems: Photovoltaic and Wind" is set to occur on November 18, 2026, in Madrid, hosted by CIEMAT. This event is crucial as the increasing deployment of photovoltaic and wind technologies across Europe is expected to generate significant volumes of end-of-life equipment, posing sustainability challenges.

Background

The workshop will explore the sustainable management of valuable materials found in renewable energy technologies, such as critical raw materials, electronic components, and metals essential for the energy transition. The recovery and reintegration of these resources into new value chains face various technical, economic, and regulatory hurdles, particularly within the European recycling sector. Recent European policy initiatives, including the Critical Raw Materials Act, have prioritized renewable energy infrastructure and associated waste streams to enhance circularity and resource security.

Key Topics

Participants will delve into several key areas:

• Electronics and Critical Raw Materials: Discussing future materials in PV and wind technologies and the concept of electronics as an urban mine.
• Challenges for the Recycling Industry: Analyzing the current status and sustainability performance of recycling pathways from an industrial perspective.
• Eco-Design for Circular Technologies: Focusing on design for disassembly and recycling, along with sustainability indicators for eco-design decisions.

Timeline

• September 13, 2026: Abstract submission deadline.
• September 25, 2026: Notification of abstract acceptance and opening of registrations.
• October 2, 2026: Deadline for confirmation of acceptance.
• October 23, 2026: Closing of registrations.

For more details, visit the event website.