Within the framework of PVPS, Task 12 endeavors to promote international collaboration, facilitate information exchange, and drive knowledge creation in the realm of PV sustainability, encompassing both environmental and social dimensions. It generates, compiles, and disseminates both primary and secondary information to technical experts, the public, and policymakers alike.
Accurate information regarding the environmental and social sustainability of photovoltaic technology is essential for various purposes, be it conducting due diligence to navigate risks and opportunities associated with PV systems or educating consumers and policymakers about their impacts and benefits. By enhancing consumer confidence and garnering support from policymakers, this information contributes to the broader adoption of PV energy systems, thereby advancing the global energy transition.
Within subtask 1, Task 12 is currently trying to develop non-recycling activities within a circular economy. For example, the experts are preparing a report on repair of PV modules to extend the lifetime and use of degraded equipment, also a report on critical material demand scenarios for PV in terawatt era is being finalized leading to a better understanding of potential bottlenecks in material supply chain due to strong growth of PV deployments. Also, a series of status and trends of PV recycling in several countries is under work.
Regarding Life Cycle Analysis, a major update of our Life Cycle Inventory will be published around mid-2026. This LCI will contain new data from state-of-the-art cells and modules as well as new Balanced of System data based on new sources. The team is changing the way to generate new LCI data to provide much quicker state of the art LCI while not reducing the quality. Several Life Cycle Assessments are also ongoing (PV recycling pathways in France, PV recycling pilots and plants…).
On the Ecosystem integrated PV (EcoPV) topic, strong involvement of our team in the Agrivoltaics Action Group needs to be mentioned and a report on Field research methods for Agrivoltaics applications is being finalized. A study on the environmental impacts of Floating PV on coral reef is ongoing in French Polynesia with already 2 years of data acquisition and treatment. The project is continuing.
Finally on the broader sustainability topic, we are willing to extend our workplan on the public acceptance area while a journal article on a comparative analysis between Spain and Australia of acceptance of residential PV should be published this year.
Task 12 is always eager to welcome new experts who can support and complement our existing workplan.
In 2025 Task 12 published 3 reports, also welcomed 5 new experts, added 1 new country, bringing our global numbers to 35 experts (29 academic and 6 industrial researchers), 10 alternates, from 14 countries.
Our Task 12 experts met twice in 2025, in Denver, Colorado, USA in March and in Freiburg, Germany in December. Both meetings were the opportunity to engage more globally with the community. In Denver we organized a hands-on training on the topic “field inspection for Solar PV reuse” by Rich Stromberg, while in Freibug Task 12 experts contributed to Solaris project (SOLARIS – Supporting optimisation of photovoltaic resource efficiency and sustainability) Workshop.
Additionally, to our meetings Task 12 organized a Parallel event at EUPVSEC 2025 in Bilbao on the topic “Latest Work on Sustainability and Circularity of PV”. This event attracted ~50 people interested in exchanging on PV circular Economy, Life Cycle Inventory of PV Recycling Processes and Facilities, as well as PV Sustainability Standards.
Task 12 aims to drive the sustainable evolution of photovoltaic (PV) technology by focusing on key objectives:
1. Environmental Impact: It quantifies and improves the environmental footprint of PV electricity, enabling comparisons with other energy sources to inform sustainable decision-making.
2. Circular Economy: Task 12 advances circularity within the PV industry through research, collaboration, and standards development, aiming to optimize material use and promote sustainable practices.
3. Synergetic Impacts: It studies the broader environmental and ecological effects of PV system deployment, including novel configurations like agrivoltaics and floating PV, to understand and mitigate potential impacts.
4. Social and Socio-economic Considerations: Task 12 addresses social acceptance and socio-economic factors crucial for PV market growth, advocating for best practices and evaluating assessment frameworks to guide sustainable development.
5. Knowledge Sharing: Task 12 disseminates its findings to technical experts, policymakers, and the public through various channels, facilitating informed decision-making and collective action towards a sustainable energy future powered by PV technology.
– Subtask 1 (Circular Economy – CE) now embraces a broader scope, focusing on the entire life cycle of PV technology and promoting circular economy principles, aiming to establish robust strategies within companies and nations.
– Subtask 2 (Life Cycle Assessment – LCA) maintains its focus on established Task 12 products, expanding to include peripheral balance of system technologies and improving methods for assessing primary mineral resource intensity.
– Subtask 3 (Ecosystem Integrated PV – EcoPV) is dedicated to assessing the ecological impact of PV systems, especially in emerging areas like agrivoltaics and floating PV, providing essential guidance for mitigating environmental impacts.
– Subtask 4 (Broader Sustainability Topics – BST) broadens Task 12’s horizon by addressing social acceptance and human health risks associated with PV technologies, aiming to enhance support for sustainable development across various dimensions.
Task 12 is jointly operated by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) and Total Energies. In addition to that, Task 12 receives valuable support from further leading research institutions, ensuring a strong foundation for advancing PV sustainability.
Task 12 aims to facilitate a common understanding of PV Sustainability among the various country-members and disseminate the Task’s outcomes and knowledge to stakeholders, energy and environmental policy decision makers, and the general public.
A key aspect of Task 12’s outreach is the publication of reports, factsheets, and technical documents that provide in-depth analyses on various aspects of PV sustainability. These publications serve as essential resources for understanding the environmental and social impacts of PV technologies. In addition to written materials, Task 12 actively engages with stakeholders through workshops and webinars, fostering knowledge exchange and discussions on best practices in PV sustainability.
