9-Tech is a start-up made by a team of engineers and researchers which develops new solutions to recover strategic raw materials from electric and electronic waste (WEEE).
9-Tech mission is to ensure upcycling of waste, that is the valorization of the critical materials it contains. Among the technologies under study, the one with the highest TRL concerns the recycling of photovoltaic waste.
Assuming successful industrialization of the technology and thanks to its industrial partners (Depuracque), 9-Tech will be able to sale photovoltaic panel recycling plants that will allow higher recovery of raw materials and with higher purity in comparison with existing solutions in Italy and Europe.
9-Tech also works in other research projects in the field of circular economy and ESG by supporting the design and construction of prototypes.
Our history
Since its foundation on January 30, 2020, 9-Tech has been working on the construction of a pilot plant for recycling photovoltaic panels with the support of the EIT Raw Materials Booster and Accelerator project (1st and 2nd phases) (85k euros).
Authorization for the experimental plant were required for in 2021 with the support of the Veritas group hosting the pilot plant. In addition, the company won the first prize in the competition held by VeNiSIA.
In 2022, the company won first prize in the Intesa SanPaolo ESG challenge with the HydroPV project, which enabled the start-up to modify the pilot plant, conduct initial tests, implement the chemical plant and increase and extend IP.
In fact, the company to date owns 2 EU patents on PV recycling and another one is pending.
Depuracque has become a shareholder of the company (22%) with the aim of supporting the industrialization of the prototype.
In 2023 the company won the prize Change the World Italy by Fortune Italy and began to lead the european project PARSIVAL, a project by RIS capacity building supported by EIT RawMaterials.
Finally, in 2023 the PV Lighthouse project, which aims to build a 3000 ton/year plant in Porto Marghera, is expected to begin.
- 30th Janyary 2020: foundation
- June: start of development of the 9PV pilot plant (40.000 euros booster project)
- September: pilot plant completed
- May: authorization needed for the pilot plant
- October: patents approved
- November: first prize at the VeNiSIA contest (20k)
- July: 1st prize at ESG by Intesa SanPaolo (250k) contest
- July: pilot plant authorised
- September: patents property improved to EU level
- October: deal with Depuracque (joint venture)
- January: beginning to coordinate the PARSIVAL project
- February: 1st prize Fortune Italia
- May: start of the PV Lighthouse project
Our team
We are a young company that brings together the energies of different researchers and professionals who in various ways collaborate and support our project!
Pietrogiovanni Cerchier
CEO
Researcher at University of Padova
Vittorio Cerchier
Technological development
ITS Engineering project person in charge
Luca Pezzato
Technological development
Researcher at University of Padova
Alessio Settimi
Electrical design and construction
Researcher at University of Padova
Francesco Miserocchi
Research and Deelopment, prototype testing
Enviromental Engineer
Marco Ballarin
Mechanical drawing
Veritas employee
Francesco Nisato
Prototypes design and building
Veritas Technical Officer
Graziano Tassinato
Research support
Veritas R&D Director
Margherita Turatello
Administration support
Freelancer
Download the 9-Tech Gender Equality Plan
Our effort for gender equality
Collaborations
Since the winning of the VeNiSIA, there’s a deal with ENEL GreenPower in order to monitor the potential of the 9-Tech PV recycling technologies.
Verallia and 9-Tech are studying how to maximise the value of glass recovered from PV waste for high-value applications.
