Governance

Governance Structure

The PVRS Hub is a national initiative addressing the urgent challenge of managing end-of-life solar panels. As solar energy deployment accelerates globally, this hub provides a circular framework for resource recovery and sustainability through five interconnected research themes.

Governance Framework

  • Hub Advisory Committee
    Offers strategic oversight and ensures alignment with national priorities and industry needs.

  • Hub Management Team
    Led by the Research Hub Director, Deputy Directors, and Theme Co-Leaders. Responsible for operational management and research coordination.

  • Hub Industry Committee
    Comprises Principal Investigators from industry partners to guide translation and commercialization.

  • ECR/PhD Committee
    Supports early-career researchers and PhD candidates, fostering collaboration and career development.

  • Diversity Committee
    Promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion across all Hub activities.

Research Themes

The Hub’s research is organised into five themes, each addressing a critical aspect of solar panel recycling and sustainability:

  1. RT1: Advanced Recycling Technologies
    Leads: Shen (UNSW), Ramdhani (Swinburne)
    Develops innovative recycling processes and reactor designs for faster, cleaner, and scalable material recovery.

  2. RT2: Safe Waste Treatment and Conversion
    Leads: Amal (UNSW), Leslie (UNSW)
    Ensures gases and liquids from recycling are treated safely and transformed into useful products.

  3. RT3: Material Reuse Pathways
    Leads: Zhao (University of Adelaide), Bernhardt (University of Queensland)
    Creates pathways to reuse recovered silicon, glass, and metals in solar manufacturing, construction, and sustainable metallurgy.

  4. RT4: Life Cycle and Policy Frameworks
    Leads: Florin (UTS), Li (University of Wollongong)
    Provides life cycle, economic, and policy evaluations to guide adoption and industry standards.

  5. RT5: Future Panel Design
    Leads: Hao (UNSW), Green (UNSW)
    Designs next-generation solar panels with recyclability and durability in mind.

Our Mission

To turn solar panel waste into valuable resources, enabling a sustainable and circular solar energy economy for Australia and beyond.