A Major European Success for ODTÜ-GÜNAM
ODTÜ-GÜNAM will take on key roles in four newly funded projects under the Horizon Europe Programme. Our institution will coordinate PRELAM-IPV and CRAFT-PV, while participating as a project partner in ReSolar and LoopSi.
Focusing on high-efficiency, sustainable, repairable and recyclable photovoltaic technologies, the four projects will address a broad range of challenges, from reducing dependence on critical raw materials and commercialising integrated PV technologies to developing next-generation cell and module architectures and circular manufacturing and recycling approaches.
PRELAM-IPV – Coordinated by ODTÜ-GÜNAM
PRELAM-IPV (HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-13), coordinated by ODTÜ-GÜNAM and jointly managed by our IntegratedPV and MDR divisions, aims to make the production of integrated photovoltaic technologies faster, more flexible and more accessible.
The project aims to reduce the initial investment costs of new manufacturers by more than 60%, shorten customised design and production processes from weeks to days, and facilitate PV integration across different sectors.
Pilot demonstrations with a total installed capacity of 115 kWp will be implemented across the building, transportation, agriculture, floating PV and railway sectors. Through recyclable design approaches, critical raw material recovery and Digital Product Passport applications, PRELAM-IPV will contribute to strengthening the circularity and competitiveness of the European PV industry.
The project will be coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Talat Özden, IntegratedPV Division Coordinator at ODTÜ-GÜNAM.
CRAFT-PV – Coordinated by ODTÜ-GÜNAM
CRAFT-PV (HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-12), coordinated by ODTÜ-GÜNAM, aims to reduce the silver dependency of high-efficiency crystalline silicon PV technologies and develop repairable, disassemblable and recyclable PV modules.
The project will develop copper-, nickel- and aluminium-based contacting systems as alternatives to silver, high-efficiency POLO²-IBC solar cells compatible with alternative metallisation methods, and new module designs enabling controlled disassembly, targeted repair and high-quality material recovery.
Through thermoplastic encapsulation, advanced coatings, failure detection and field-level intervention methods, CRAFT-PV will also seek to extend PV module lifetimes while combining efficiency, durability, repairability and recyclability within a single technological approach.
The project will be coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veysel Ünsür, Lead Researcher at the SiPV Division of ODTÜ-GÜNAM.
ReSolar – ODTÜ-GÜNAM as Project Partner
ODTÜ-GÜNAM is a project partner in ReSolar (HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-12), which aims to develop recyclable, repairable, resilient and resource-efficient next-generation PV modules while reducing Europe’s dependence on external supply chains.
The project will develop high-efficiency, silver- and indium-free SHJ and TOPCon solar cells, copper-, nickel- and aluminium-based metallisation and interconnection solutions, and delamination-on-demand or laminate-free module architectures designed to facilitate repair and recycling.
Innovative recycling routes will enable the high-efficiency and high-purity recovery of valuable materials, while in-field repair methods and accelerated ageing protocols will support the goal of extending PV module lifetimes beyond 40 years.
Prof. Dr. Raşit Turan, SiPV Division Coordinator at ODTÜ-GÜNAM, will lead ODTÜ-GÜNAM’s activities in ReSolar.
LoopSi – ODTÜ-GÜNAM as Project Partner
ODTÜ-GÜNAM is a project partner in LoopSi (HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-12), which aims to establish a circular European PV value chain by developing long-lasting, repairable and recyclable silicon PV modules.
The project will develop high-efficiency, silver-free TOPCon and IBC solar cells, implement two innovative module architectures designed for easy disassembly, repair and recycling, and support the high-purity recovery of valuable materials such as silicon, aluminium and copper.
The resulting modules will be free of indium, fluorine and lead, helping reduce dependence on critical raw materials and lower environmental impacts. Non-destructive recycling and eco-design approaches will also enable recovered materials to re-enter the PV value chain.
Dr. Hisham Nasser, Lead Researcher at the SiPV Division of ODTÜ-GÜNAM, will lead ODTÜ-GÜNAM’s activities in LoopSi.
We congratulate all our colleagues who contributed to this significant achievement, particularly our researchers who played an active role in developing the scientific and technical content of the projects, preparing the proposals and establishing the consortia, and we sincerely thank them for their efforts.
We wish the projects every success and hope that they will deliver high-quality outcomes for ODTÜ-GÜNAM and Türkiye.