On August 23rd, the National University of Tainan (NUTN) welcomed delegate led by Jay Hansen, the CEO of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFEE). The university showcased its unique developments in net-zero carbon emissions and circular economy to its guest. CEO Hansen engaged in in-depth discussions with NUTN faculty and students during his visit. He then stopped by TSGC, a spin-off company of NUTN, to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s exclusive technology for processing EoL photovoltaic panels.
Hui-Ping Chen, the President of NUTN warmly welcomed CEO Hansen’s visit. She emphasized that the University has been relentless in promoting low-carbon and sustainable development. In recent years, the university has actively engaged in research and application of the circular economy and maintains close collaboration with the industry. This year, thanks to the efforts of Yaw-Shyan Fuh, Dean of the College of Environmental Sciences and Ecology, and his team, the “Solar Cell Circular Economy Industry Alliance,” the further development of a low-carbon future has taken a huge step. Professor Fuh and his team created a significant platform for cross-sector collaboration in the fields of low-carbon and resource recycling.
California leads the way in photovoltaic panel recycling regulations. As early as 2013, it introduced the Emissions Trading System (ETS), covering the power generation, large industrial, residential, commercial, and transportation sectors, reinvesting carbon market revenues into low-carbon transportation and environmental restoration projects. In 2021, California further classified waste photovoltaic panels as general waste, simplifying the recycling process and strictly limiting the use of chemical and thermal treatments. CEO Hansen’s visit represents a significant opportunity for TSGC’s recycling technologies to enter the North American market.
TSGC has launched the PV Circulator, which disassembles waste photovoltaic panels through physical processing and fully automated technology. This solution can comprehensively record the recycling history of each photovoltaic panel and generate a recycling passport for each panel, providing strong evidence of the company’s progress toward fulfilling ESG goals.
Distinguished Professor Yaw-Shyan Fuh, one of the founders of TSGC and the Dean of the College of Environmental Sciences and Ecology, stated that having an in-depth idea exchange with CEO Hansen on the net-zero and low-carbon concepts is a valuable opportunity. He looks forward to transforming waste photovoltaic panels into high-value recycled materials in the future and introducing this innovative technology to the California market, paving the way for the global circular economy industry.
CEO Hansen’s visit highlights the international community’s keen interest in net-zero technology. This exchange has further promoted cooperation between Taiwan and the United States in environmental protection and the circular economy. The National University of Tainan will continue to deepen its collaboration with international partners, striving to promote advanced solar panel recycling technology to more countries and regions. The university aims to become a new benchmark in the circular economy of the solar industry, driving the world towards a more sustainable future.
