FAQ

• The size of the installation must be calculated in accordance with VDI (Association of German Engineers) Guideline 4640. Ask your chosen drilling company for information on this subject.
  In addition, you can also have a heat load calculation and a geological survey carried out in order to establish the sizing.
• You must ensure that you have obtained all necessary permits before the works start.
• The exact date of the start of drilling must then be notified to the water management authority in advance. Ensure that the drilling company and the installer coordinate their schedules.
• Plan appropriate access to the site in advance.

Klima-Agence will be happy to advise you on this crucial question, which you should ask yourself at the start of your project. Contact us by telephone via our free hotline on 8002 11 90 or request a personal interview at home. Klima-Agence will also advise you on public subsidies and any municipal subsidies available, as well as on the possible procedures for setting up the installation.

Yes, it is possible to recycle these batteries. It is regulated by the amended Law of 19 December 2008 on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, which enacts European Directive 2006/66/EC into Luxembourg law. This directive requires at least 50% of the weight of batteries other than lead-acid and nickel-cadmium types, i.e. lithium-ion batteries, to be recycled.

The components that are currently most attractive for recycling are cobalt, nickel, copper and aluminium. In the medium term, the lithium recycling rate should improve to ensure supply.

For more information or instructions relating to the recycling of these batteries, which are considered to be industrial accumulators, please contact either SuperDrecksKëscht or the Ecobatterien asbl association.

To assess the environmental impact of batteries, it is necessary to take into account the rare and partly at-risk resources (lead, lithium, etc.) consumed, their origins and the mix of electricity used in the production of the batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are made of cobalt, nickel, copper, aluminium and lithium, as well as other materials. Among these materials, the availability of lithium in particular is a hot topic. Over the short term, reserves are sufficient to guarantee the manufacture of the batteries; nevertheless, it will be necessary to improve the recycling capacity of lithium to ensure supply over the medium term.

Analysis of the environmental impact of these batteries is currently a major topic of research. Although there have already been positive developments in terms of cost effectiveness, performance and the environmental impact of batteries, they are still under intense development and significant progress is expected in the near future.

Thin-film panels (i.e. cells made of copper, indium, gallium and selenium, known as CIGS, and CdTe) are becoming increasingly common. This technology allows for greater energy savings and reductions in environmental impact than the current types, as the production method is simpler and the need for raw materials is lower. These cells are already showing yields higher than 20%. In addition, owing to their slimness, these modules offer more flexibility in terms of installation, allowing for curved shapes or easier integration into a façade or roof.

Beyond current technologies, the development of what are known as multi-junction cells promises even higher levels of efficiency through the stacking of single-junction cells. These cells are composed of two or more different active layers that enable different parts of the solar spectrum to be captured.

Thin-film modules are already available on the market; however, these technologies are still being developed. Commercial maturity can be expected in the next few years. These multi-junction cells are currently still under development but should be available on the market shortly.

Yes, in general it is possible to repair them, with the exception of broken glass.

Currently, most panels destined for recycling are faulty panels or panels that have been damaged during transport. Where possible, therefore, repair is the best method of giving panels a second life, thereby extending the life cycle of panels that would otherwise be recycled.

According to the law of 9 June 2022 on waste electrical and electronic equipment, the producer is responsible for the collection and processing of photovoltaic panels.

Producer means any natural person or legal entity who manufactures photovoltaic panels in Luxembourg or initially imports them onto the Luxembourg market. Any person established in another Member State or in a third country who, on a professional basis, supplies photovoltaic panels directly to a user in Luxembourg is considered a producer. In practice, in the majority of cases, this is the installer of the photovoltaic plant in Luxembourg.

Possibilities for owners to dispose of their old photovoltaic panels 

For photovoltaic panels put on the market before 13/08/2005 :

• in case of replacement of the photovoltaic panels, the take back of the old panel is free of charge and must be ensured by the company supplying the new equipment
• in case of dismantling of the photovoltaic panel (non-replacement of the panel), the removal by a professional collector is done against payment by the user

For photovoltaic panels placed on the market after 13/08/2005 :

• free take-back by the producer who bears the costs of collection and recovery of the photovoltaic panels. 

In general, all photovoltaic panels are recyclable.

Indeed, there are risk-free procedures for silicon-based panels as well as for thin-film panels containing cadmium. Moreover, recycling is regulated by the European Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment, which is transposed into national law by the law of 9 June 2022 on waste electrical and electronic equipment: this framework currently requires at least 80% of the mass of a photovoltaic panel to be prepared for reuse or recycled, and 85% of the mass to be recovered.

The recycling rate of photovoltaic modules is nevertheless close to 100%, considering that the modules are generally composed mainly of glass, aluminium and other metals. Net modules usually contain very limited amounts of synthetic materials, such as silicon or other minerals. However, it is technically possible to recycle these elements, even if the processes for extracting them are not yet cost-effective. Thus, these materials are currently mainly used for thermal recovery.

To date, there are no limitations regarding the availability of materials for the production of photovoltaic panels, or there are alternatives for the use of the most critical materials.

Silicon is the main material for cells of the same name and does not pose any problems in terms of availability. Other materials, such as silver, can be substituted with other materials without directly degrading cell performance.

For thin-film cells, indium, tellurium, gallium, selenium and cadmium are considered critical resources. The exact impact of market developments on the availability of these minerals is still a subject of research.