Silva, Margarete Heleno daBoloy, RonneyFerreira, Ângela P.2026-06-122026-06-122025Silva, Margarete Heleno da; Boloy, Ronney; Ferreira, Ângela P. (2025). End-of-life waste from photovoltaic systems: current practices, challenges, and opportunities. In 2025 International Conference on Future Energy Solutions, FES 2025. IEEE. p. 1-6. ISBN 979-833159839-6979-833159839-6http://hdl.handle.net/10198/36871The rapid growth of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy has introduced significant challenges related to the management of End-of-Life (EoL) panel waste. Projections estimate that by 2050, global PV waste could exceed 60 million tons. The absence of specific regulatory frameworks and the limited development of recycling infrastructure further aggravate the situation, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices and the integration of circular economy principles within the solar industry. This paper discusses existing regulatory policies across various countries, along with recent technological advances in recycling processes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of implementing a circular economy-based waste management model to enable the recovery of valuable materials, reduce reliance on virgin raw materials, and mitigate the environmental impact of the PV sector.engPhotovoltaic wasteRecyclingCircular economySustainabilityconference paper10.1109/fes65767.2025.113418872-s2.0-105033342779