Photovoltaic (PV) installation rate is growing globally, therefore (PV) waste mass presents an environmental challenge.

This study evaluates the integration of reused PV modules within an agrivoltaic system designed for sustainable horticultural production, focusing on energy performance and agricultural outcomes. The experimental setup included both new and partially repaired PV modules, installed over tomato crops under real operating conditions. The results demonstrate that reused PV modules exhibit a strong and consistent energy performance, achieving correlations between irradiance and energy output comparable to new panels. Despite slightly lower performance ratios, reused modules maintained stable efficiency and operational viability, emphasizing their potential for sustainable applications. On the agricultural side, shading provided by PV panels protects the crop yield. This study highlights the environmental and economic advantages of incorporating reused PV modules into agrivoltaic systems, including reductions in raw material extraction, electronic waste generation, and overall environmental impact. By leveraging the circular economy principles, agrivoltaics with reused PV modules provide a sustainable pathway to balance energy production and food security while optimizing land use efficiency. These findings establish the potential of agrivoltaics as a key technology in advancing the sustainable energy transition.

The European Union (EU) is witnessing an expansion in solar capacity, aligning with its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. However, deploying solar capacity introduces significant environmental complexities, such as managing photovoltaic waste when the modules reach their end of life. This study presents an assessment of PV waste mass generation, integrating the latest data from the revised targets of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of EU Member States presented in December 2023. Annual and cumulative PV waste mass is presented, analyzing the results in terms of the PV capacity deployment in each country and their recycling needs to face the treatment of the generated PV waste. According to the reviewed targets, the analysis reveals significant variations in PV waste mass generation across EU countries. The revisions show a substantial increase in the amount of waste generated in Europe. Lithuania and Ireland are anticipated to face substantial challenges, particularly under the early-loss scenario, whereas Germany, Italy, France, and Spain continue to be the countries that will generate the most PV waste mass in Europe. These findings emphasize the necessity for formulating and implementing effective waste management strategies to address the increasing generation of PV waste and mitigate its environmental impact. Furthermore, the study underscores the need to reassess projections to accommodate evolving energy policies and targets, ensuring alignment with sustainability objectives in this dynamic field.