Veolia Environnement : For the first time in France, PV CYCLE and Veolia will recycle old photovoltaic panels
March 20, 2017 at 06:57 am EDT
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20 march 2017
PV CYCLE France, the used photovoltaic panel collection eco-organism approved by the authorities, has entrusted Veolia with the treatment and recovery of this end-of-life-equipment. A first in France.
The first French unit for the processing and recycling photovoltaic panels will be located in Rousset in the Bouches-du-Rhône (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region). Using technology that is unique in France, it will recover 1,400 tonnes of material per year from 2017 and up to 4,000 tonnes by 2021. The secondary raw materials will then be re-injected into various sectors (aluminium, glass, copper) in line with circular economy principles. Veolia and PV CYCLE France thereby comply with the European WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive which requires solar panel importers and manufacturers to collect and recycle end-of-life equipment.
'This first unit dedicated to recycling used photovoltaic panels is part of the high value-added strategy in our sector, recovering nearly 96% of materials while reducing the environmental impact of the collection process,' said Nicolas Defrenne, CEO of PV CYCLE France.
'This contract, new in France, illustrates Veolia's ability to convince key recycling players by providing innovative solutions. It marks the beginning of a long collaboration with PV CYCLE, the only eco-organism in this sector,' added Bernard Harambillet, CEO Waste Solutions for Veolia in France.
In 2016, 55,000 tonnes of photovoltaic panels were installed in France totalling 6.8 GW. Driven by France's Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, this will reach 20.2 GW by 2023.
More
>PV CYCLE France
>Veolia's waste management expertise
>In Angers, Veolia manages the largest WEEE sorting and recycling centre in France
Veolia Environnement SA published this content on 20 March 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 March 2017 10:57:05 UTC.
Veolia Environnement is the world leader in environmental management services. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- water-related services (40.6%; No. 1 worldwide): water resources management, drinking water distribution and delivery, wastewater collection, treatment and recovery, engineering, design, construction of water treatment facilities and customer relationship management, etc.;
- waste management services (32.4%; no. 1 worldwide): collection, treatment and recycling of liquid, solid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste, waste treatment and recovery through composting, energy recovery from waste, etc. Veolia Environnement also provides urban waste management services (maintenance and cleaning of public spaces, provision of mechanized street cleaning and façade treatment services), maintenance of industrial sites, and dismantling of industrial facilities and equipment at the end of their useful life;
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Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (21.5%), Europe (41.9%), North America (7.4%), Asia (5.6%), Africa and the Middle East (4.9%), Pacific (4.3%), Latin America (4%) and other (10.4%).