First for Small and Medium Enterprises! Preparing for the era of mass disposal of solar panels! New Service Using "SANE Traceability Marker New Service Using "SANE Traceability Marker" Launched!

SANEI Co. (Headquarters: Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Sakae Anzaki), which proposes and installs self-consumption solar power generation systems, has launched a new service using the "SANE Traceability Marker," which enables centralized management and storage of information on the manufacturer of installed solar panels, completion date, maintenance history, and various insurance information, etc., on a cloud computing system. This service is the first of its kind (according to our own research) for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Traceability viewing smartphone screen (image under development)

Concerns after the installation of solar panels

SANEI-INTERNATIONAL has installed many solar power generation systems and has contributed to the spread of clean energy.

However, in response to increasing concerns about how to dispose of and dispose of solar panels after installation, we feel that we need to address this issue seriously.

Many of our customers have asked us, "What should we do with the installed panels when they reach the end of their useful life?" and "Is there any way to dispose of them without negatively impacting the environment? In particular, early installers of solar panels installed immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake are increasingly concerned about the specific procedures and costs involved in disposal.

We have taken these voices seriously and have been seeking solutions to the disposal issue. Going forward, we believe it is necessary to address the environmental issues that arise when panels are disposed of after installation. The service using the "SANE Traceability Marker" is part of this initiative.

When a total of 30 customers, both individual and corporate, who had already installed solar power generation systems were surveyed about their concerns about solar power generation systems, concerns about disposal were recorded by more than half of the respondents.

Survey results (based on our own research)

Aiming to Ensure Traceability of Solar Panels

Due to the rapid spread of solar panels, it is predicted that we will enter an era of "mass disposal" in the late 2030s, when as many as 300,000 tons of panels will be disposed of annually. In Japan, many panels that have already been installed are reaching the end of their useful life and require appropriate disposal. The government is considering the creation of a new platform to promote reuse, and efforts are underway to improve recycling efficiency at the time of disposal. Disposal of solar panels may contain environmentally hazardous substances, and improper disposal increases the risk of environmental pollution and other environmental problems. In response, governments around the world are calling for the proper disposal and recycling of waste materials, but the reality is that no concrete measures have yet been established for solar panels.

Against this backdrop, ensuring the traceability of solar panels is becoming increasingly important. Traceability refers to the ability to trace the process of a product from production to disposal. In the case of solar panels, this means centralized management of information such as installation location, maintenance history, and manufacturer. This will enable appropriate disposal based on accurate information at the time of disposal, which is expected to improve recycling efficiency and protect the environment.

*Percentage of solar panels in the final disposal volume of industrial waste as currently projected; by the late 2030s, solar panels will account for about 30 tons of the final disposal volume, ushering in an "era of mass disposal. (Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Projected Solar Panel Emissions

[Details of the tag

Ltd. provides a service using the "SANEI Traceability Marker," which attaches a unique ID tag to each solar power generation system and centrally manages this information in the cloud. This makes it possible to accurately track the history of panels from installation to disposal. Specifically, panel manufacturing information, installation location, and maintenance history are stored in the cloud, and can be accessed whenever necessary by holding a smartphone over the marker.

The "SANE Traceability Marker" will store approximately 30 items of information, including the manufacturer of the installed solar panels, completion date, maintenance history, and various types of insurance. The management screen can also be accessed from a smartphone.

Traceability viewing PC screen (image under development)

The markers will be attached to peripheral devices such as power conditioners and power generation monitors, allowing easy access to detailed panel information even when solar panels are mounted on the roof.

Traceability marker

Solar panels on the roof of our headquarters

Future Development

SANEI-INTERNATIONAL plans to gradually expand services using the "SANEI Traceability Marker" mainly to our customers. We will also collaborate with recycling companies to improve traceability throughout the industry. This will minimize the environmental burden at the time of disposal and contribute to the realization of a more sustainable society.

Company Profile

Name ： SANEI Co.

Location ： 4-1-10 Miharucho, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa

URL ： https://sanei-e.com/

Marker manufacturer : https://nobest.jp/index.html