IREC is a partner in the PHOTO-RECIRCUIT project, entitled “Photovoltaic-integrated recycled steel circuit boards for sustainable low-power IoT electronics”. It is a public–private collaborative initiative funded under the Spanish programme Ayudas a Proyectos de Colaboración Público-Privada of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2024–2027.

PHOTO-RECIRCUIT addresses key sustainability challenges associated with the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), particularly the sector’s strong dependence on batteries and critical raw materials, as well as the environmental impact of conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs). The project proposes an innovative alternative based on recyclable steel-core PCBs, functionalised with advanced vitreous coatings and integrated photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesters, enabling self-powered, low-consumption IoT devices.

The research focuses on developing steel substrates compatible with high-temperature semiconductor processes, overcoming the limitations of traditional fiberglass-based PCBs. By integrating PV technologies directly into the electronic substrate, PHOTO-RECIRCUIT aims to significantly reduce battery use, electronic waste and reliance on critical raw materials, while enabling new form factors and applications for indoor and outdoor IoT systems. The project will run for 3 years and it is coordinated by Electrolomas and brings together CELSA OPCO, IREC, IDONIAL, EURECAT and TTC. Within the consortium, IREC contributes its expertise in photovoltaic technology fabrication, adapting thin-film photovoltaic technology to diverse operating conditions and optimizing power-extraction electronics to enable its use as a reliable energy source for IoT systems. This supports the development of customizable, sustainable power solutions for next-generation IoT devices with extended battery lifetime.  This activity is led by Pedro Vidal and Victor Izquierdo from the Solar Energy Materials and Systems Department.

The project represents a step forward towards more circular, energy-autonomous and environmentally responsible electronics aligned with European strategic autonomy and sustainability goals.

Acknowledgements (in Spanish): Proyecto SCPP2400C011717XV0 financiado por: