Use Cases

SoliTek is committed to enhancing the recyclability and reusability of end-of-life (EoL) PV solar panels within the manufacturing industry by implementing circular strategies. The goal is to minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and adopt a closed-loop approach that aligns with sustainability objectives.

This use case focuses on developing recommendations for the design of PV solar panels that prioritize easy disassembly and dismantling at the EoL stage. SoliTek’s in-house recycling unit will follow optimized disassembly steps to ensure that PV panel parts are not damaged, allowing them to be reused in new panels or other products within the supply chain. CIRCMAN5.0 will support this process by providing AI-driven parametric eco-design tools, circular and LCA frameworks, and a Human-in-the-Loop recommendation engine to guide the design of PV panels with recovery procedures in mind.

Additionally, CIRCMAN5.0’s Collaborative Space, which integrates multiple manufacturing dataspace participants, will enable SoliTek to efficiently dispose of spare parts, waste, and EoL PV components within the supply chain, all tracked and managed through Digital Product Passports (DPP). This provides a competitive advantage by ensuring transparency and compliance with circular economy principles.

To further improve SoliTek’s environmental impact, materials will be evaluated through CIRCMAN5.0’s eco-design tools to identify more recyclable options where necessary. Energy consumption and emissions throughout the production stages will also be assessed, with recommendations for factory improvements aimed at reducing emissions and resource use provided via a Cognitive Digital Twin simulated environment.