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13.08.2025

20th Roundtable Energy Partnership - B2G ‘Recycling and Reuse of Solar Panels’

On 13 August 2025, a successful B2G roundtable on Solar Panel Recycling and Reuse was held, organised within the framework of the GIZ Chile-Germany Energy Partnership. During the event, leading experts from the public and private sectors and academia presented their knowledge and advances in the field of the circular economy and public policies related to the recycling and reuse of solar panels.

The welcoming remarks were delivered by Dafne Pino, Regional Ministerial Secretary for Energy in the Antofagasta Region. She provided the context for this meeting, which is part of the growing debate in various countries regarding the recycling of materials from disused photovoltaic panels, as well as the economically viable reuse of repaired modules, considering critical aspects such as safety and certification. These issues are becoming—or will soon become—particularly relevant, especially in northern Chile.

Program

Video:

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Welcome remarks: Dafne Pino, Regional Ministerial Secretary for Energy of the Antofagasta Region

🌿 Eduardo Acuña, Head of the Project Development Division at the Chilean Ministry of Energy, presented on the Ministry's work on the circular economy.

📜 Paz Maluenda, from the Circular Economy Office at the Chilean Ministry of the Environment, spoke about the REP Law and public policies for the circular economy in the energy sector.

🔬 Dr. Jorge Rabanal-Arabach, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Antofagasta, spoke about the Photovoltaic Module Inspection Laboratory and the technical guide with guidelines for the safe and standardised use of reconditioned panels.

⚙️ Cesar Castro, Director of Pañiwe Sustentable Limitada, presented on the pre-treatment of photovoltaic solar cells and metal recovery in hydrometallurgical processes.

♻️ Prof. Dr. Peter Dold, from Fraunhofer IWKS, addressed the topic Recycling of PV Modules: Annoying Obligation or Profitable Business?, presenting the studies carried out by Fraunhofer IWKS in Germany on the possibilities of recycling panels and their components.

🌞♻️ We would like to thank all participants and speakers for their valuable contributions. Together we are moving towards a more sustainable and efficient future in the use of solar energy. 🌞♻️

This event was organised by the Chile-Germany Energy Partnership on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), in cooperation with the Chilean Ministry of Energy, and implemented by GIZ in cooperation with Fraunhofer Chile and AHK Chile.