The Faces of RETRIEVE: Rune Søndenå on Upcycling, Innovation & Closing the Solar Loop
In this episode of The Faces of RETRIEVE, we feature Rune Søndenå, Research Scientist at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) and Technical Coordinator of the RETRIEVE project.
Rune brings deep expertise in photovoltaic (PV) module production, which he now applies to a new challenge: disassembling and rebuilding solar panels to give them a second life in a truly circular way.
“We’re taking materials that were state-of-the-art 15–20 years ago and upcycling them to meet today’s standards. That’s a major challenge—and a vital one for circularity,” he explains.
In the interview, Rune also shares how RETRIEVE is integrating digital tools—like the Digital Product Passport—to support reuse, traceability, and systemic change across the solar sector.
🎥 Watch to learn how RETRIEVE is helping close the loop in solar energy—turning old panels into new possibilities.
👉 Visit our website to learn more about the RETRIEVE project: https://www.retrieveproject.eu
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