Environmental impacts of PV technology throughout the life cycle: Importance of the end-of-life management for Si-panels and CdTe-panels

Vellini, Michela; Gambini, Marco; Prattella, Valentina

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2017.07.031

Cited by 114 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The system boundaries ( Figure 4) were set from cradle-to-grave, which involves the assessment of the environmental impact of each phase of manufacturing (from raw material extraction to product assembly), distribution (from production site to end user), use and end of life treatment (recycling). The end of life treatment of PV components represents a debated issue in several LCA studies [43][44][45][46]. The long life span of PV systems and the current low amount of PV waste treated in the recycling facilities, limit the research on end of life issues so far [47].…”

Section: System Boundaries and Functional Unitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems

et al. 2018

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A life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to evaluate the cumulative energy demand and the related environmental impact of three large-power stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) irrigation systems ranging from 40 kWp to 360 kWp. The novelty of this analysis is the large power of these systems as the literature up to now is restricted to modeled PV pumping systems scenarios or small power plants, where the size can be a critical factor for energy and environmental issues. The analysis shows that the yearly embodied energy per unit of PV power ranged from 1306 MJ/kWp to 1199 MJ/kWp depending of the PV generator size. Similarly, the related yearly carbon dioxide impacts ranged from 72.6 to 79.8 kg CO2e/kWp. The production of PV modules accounted for the main portion (about 80%) of the primary energy embodied into the PV irrigation system (PVIS). The outcomes of the study also show an inverse trend of the energy and carbon payback times respect to the PV power size: In fact, energy payback time increased from 1.94, to 5.25 years and carbon payback time ranged from 4.62 to 9.38 years. Also the energy return on investment depends on the PV generator dimension, ranging from 12.9 to 4.8. The environmental impact of the stand-alone PV systems was also expressed in reference to the potential amount of electricity generated during the whole PV life. As expected, the largest PVIS performs the best result, obtaining an emission rate of 45.9 g CO2e per kWh, while the smallest one achieves 124.1 g CO2e per kWh. Finally, the energy and environmental indicators obtained in this study are strongly related to the irrigation needs, which in turn are influenced by other factors as the type of cultivated crops, the weather conditions and the water availability.

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Section: System Boundaries and Functional Unitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems

et al. 2018

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“…However, there are a few studies, particularly for c-Si, that focus on the impacts of recycling processes for PV technologies [6,7] and some of them even compare these process with other scenarios such as landfill [8] and incineration [9]. Although the mentioned works are a step in the right direction, there is a need for a more comprehensive inventory of different recycling possibilities.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lately, there has been increasing interest and research on the impact of recycling processes of PV modules. Most of the studies in c-Si have focused on the impacts of a specific recycling process [6,7], while some of them compare recycling process with other scenarios such as landfill [8] and incineration [9]. This report compares the environmental impacts of landfill, incineration, reuse and three potential recycling options (mechanical, thermal and chemical routes) of EoL c-Si solar modules, considering results already described in the literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the recycling scenario, the considered processes were thermal [28,29] and chemical [6,20,30,31] methods, compared with the mechanical approach, which is already published [7] but excluding the transportation impacts from all processes. These recycling processes start with the mechanical separation of the junction box and aluminium frame, which can be recycled and reused.…”

Section: Process Descriptions and Inventory Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequently, potassium hydroxide is used to remove Al metal coatings, and a mixture of nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride and acetic acid remove metals, anti-reflection coatings and p-n junctions. The metals (including silicon) were assumed to be reused in new cells [6] and 80% of the silicon used in new cells can come from this recycling process.…”

Section: Process Descriptions and Inventory Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of End-of-Life Silicon Solar Photovoltaic Modules

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) waste reached 250,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2016 and is expected to increase considerably in the future. Hence, adequate end-of-life (EoL) management for PV modules must be developed. Today, most of the EoL modules go to landfill, mainly because recycling processes for PV modules are not yet economically feasible and regulation in most countries is not yet well established. Nevertheless, several methods for recycling PV modules are under development. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology that quantifies the environmental impacts of a process or a product. An attributional LCA was undertaken to compare landfill, incineration, reuse and recycling (mechanical, thermal and chemical routes) of EoL crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar modules, based on a combination of real process data and assumptions. The results show that recovery of materials from solar modules results in lower environmental impacts compared to other EoL scenarios, considering our assumptions. The impacts could be even lower with the adoption of more complex processes that can reclaim more materials. Although recycling processes can achieve good recycling rates and recover almost all materials from solar modules, attention must be paid to the use of toxic substances during the chemical routes of recycling and to the distance to recycling centres due to the impacts of transportation.

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The circular economy approach to evaluating end‐of‐life cost alternatives of solar PV panels: The case of Burnoye‐1, Kazakhstan

Omar

Seilkhan

Bissembayeva

et al. 2022

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

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The circular economy concept resonates as a new approach to optimize limited resource usage and reduce waste generation. However, the most solar PV power plant analyses do not consider the sustainable disposal of used systems at the end of life (EoL) or at the time for potential refurbishment. The 50 MWp Burnoye-1 solar power plant in the Jambyl region in Kazakhstan was modeled using the RETScreen Expert platform to determine how the circular economy concept may increase its environmental benefits and impact the levelized cost of produced electricity. Results proved that recycling Burnoye-1's photovoltaic panels at EoL would increase the project's Net Present profit by almost 0.373 million USD, marginally raising its Benefitcost and internal rate of return (IRR) on equity by much less than 1% each, with respect to the non-recycling baseline. However, a significant impact on the 25-year lifetime GHG emissions is achieved when PV recycling is considered. Recycling the PV panels in Burnoye-1 at the EoL would add an extra 76.5 ktCO 2e emissions reduction, representing an increase of 8.7% in its avoided lifetime GHG emissions. Furthermore, PV recycling may generate local jobs benefitting the neighboring communities.Thus, this study demonstrates that the circular economy approach is viable in Kazakhstan and will help the country meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

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Environmental impacts of PV technology throughout the life cycle: Importance of the end-of-life management for Si-panels and CdTe-panels

Cited by 114 publications

References 11 publications

Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems

Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of End-of-Life Silicon Solar Photovoltaic Modules

The circular economy approach to evaluating end‐of‐life cost alternatives of solar PV panels: The case of Burnoye‐1, Kazakhstan

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