End-of-Life Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract

More than 78 million tons of photovoltaic modules (PVMs) will reach their end of life (EOL) by 2050. If they are not responsibly managed, they can (a) pollute our terrestrial ecosystem, (b) indirectly encourage continuous mining and extraction of Earth’s finite resources, and (c) diminish the net environmental benefit of harvesting solar energy. Conversely, successfully recovering them could reduce resource extraction and waste and generate sufficient economic return and value to finance the production of another 2 billion PVMs by 2050. Therefore, EOL PVMs must participate in the circular economy, and business and political leaders are actively devising strategies to enable their participation. This article aims to facilitate and expedite their efforts by comprehensively reviewing and presenting the latest progress and developments in EOL PVM recovery methods and processes. It also identifies and thoroughly discusses several interrelated observations that impede or accelerate their efforts. Overall, our approach to this article differs but synergistically complements and builds upon existing life cycle assessment-based (LCA-based) contributions.

End-of-waste criteria in the framework of end-of-life PV panels concerning circular economy strategy

“…A new discipline in the core of chemical, environmental, electrical and mechanical engineering, material science, energy engineers and other should be introduced for future generation engineers to design, promote and establish innovation on end-oflife PV panels and redesign next-generation PV modules. There (Land Art Generator, 2009;Solar Power Europe, 2022;Tan et al, 2022). PV: photovoltaic.…”

“…Figure 1. Global statistics concerning PV panels installations(Land Art Generator, 2009;Solar Power Europe, 2022;Tan et al, 2022). PV: photovoltaic.…”

Circular solar: Evaluating the profitability of a photovoltaic panel recycling plant

“…The issue of PV module recycling is increasingly urgent. If they are not properly managed, they have the potential to: (i) damage our terrestrial ecology; (ii) inadvertently stimulate further resource extraction and mining and (iii) reduce the net environmental benefit of solar energy harvesting (Tan et al, 2022). In this picture, the growth of PV systems has a significant increasing trend and will play a decisive role within energy models based on renewables and sustainable communities (D'Adamo et al, 2022a).…”

“…Some estimates predict that more than 78 million tonnes of EoL photovoltaic modules will be reached by 2050 (Tan et al, 2022). The issue of PV module recycling is increasingly urgent.…”

“…PV modules based on mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline silicon cells do not contain hazardous heavy metals and represent 90% of the market share, whereas the remaining 10% accounts for thin film technology cells based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper-indium-gallium-selenide, and amorphous silicon (Azeumo et al, 2019). Some estimates predict that more than 78 million tonnes of EoL photovoltaic modules will be reached by 2050 (Tan et al, 2022). The issue of PV module recycling is increasingly urgent.…”