Webinar: Circularity in the Solar PV Industry - 5 March 2025

The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), IfM Engage (part of the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing) and E.ON Group Innovation are pleased to announce the launch of a joint report, Circular Solar: The Opportunities and Challenges for Increased Circularity in the Solar PV Industry, on Wednesday 5 March.

This work examines the current state of affairs for end-of-life solar PV units, including barriers to increased rates of repair, reuse and recycling (among other circular economy strategies). Building on technical and policy analysis informed by expert input, the report offers insights on what businesses and policymakers could do to achieve greater circularity in this fast-growing sector.

Participants at this launch webinar will hear the report’s authors present key takeaways, followed by reflections from stakeholders in business and policymaking. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions towards the end of the session.

Timing

14:00-15:15 GMT/15:00-16:15 CET, 5 March 2025

Outline agenda

• Welcome from E.ON Group Innovation
• Presentation of the report and key findings
• Reflections from stakeholders (business and policy)
• Q&A
• Wrap up and concluding remarks

We look forward to welcoming you on 5 March. 

Speakers

Dr. Munib Amin. Head of Research & Technology and Managing Director, E.ON Group Innovation (moderator)

Munib Amin is Head of the Research & Technology department and Managing Director of E.ON Group Innovation GmbH. His goal is to bridge the gap between science and industry by means of cooperative research projects. Before joining E.ON, he held various positions at RWE and Innogy. Munib Amin holds several mandates in the academic space and is chair of the IERE research association.

Erik van Berkel, Strategy Consultant, Essent

Erik is Strategy ESG consultant at Essent, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. High priority on his agenda is clean energy and circularity. Erik has a master’s in science, after completing the University of Delft Erik worked as consultant Data Science & Analytics within Capgemini.

Peter Handley, CISL Senior Associate and former EU Commission Official

Peter is a Senior Associate with CISL and has over 40 years of professional experience in the European Commission and in the UK Civil Service. In his most recent role, Peter was the head of unit and deputy director in DG GROW responsible for critical raw materials (CRMs) and energy-intensive industries. In that role, he led the work on the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and negotiated the EU's strategic partnerships on CRMs.

Nadine Braun, Senior Manager Environmental Sustainability, E.ON SE

Nadine Braun is Senior Manager in the Group Sustainability department of the strategy division at E.ON SE and Circular Economy Group lead and responsible for the CE strategy implementation. Prior to this, she was head of research in the field of circular economy at the Wuppertal Institute.

Martin Porter, Executive Chair, CISL Brussels

Martin joined CISL from the European Climate Foundation, where he was working as Europe Group Co-ordinator. He has also led their Industry and Innovation programme and has a long track record of working on industry, environment and sustainability issues prior to taking up that role in 2015. He is also an expert advisor to the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 on climate and resource issues, a representative on the Economic and Social Committee’s Commission on Industrial Change, a member of UCL’s European Institute Advisory Board and a member of the advisory board to the Sustainable Biomass Programme.

We will also hear from the report’s authors and lead researchers, Dr. Sanna Markkanen (CISL), Diana Khripko (IfM Engage) and Pamela Ong (E.ON Group Innovation).

Register to attend

Any questions?

Please contact edmund.dickens@cisl.cam.ac.uk