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Adapting Stand‐Alone Renewable Energy Technologies for the Circular Economy through Eco‐Design and Recycling

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  • John Gallagher
  • Biswajit Basu
  • Maria Browne
  • Alan Kenna
  • Sarah McCormack
  • Francesco Pilla
  • David Styles

Abstract

Renewable energy (RE) technologies are looked upon favorably to provide for future energy demands and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the installation of these technologies requires large quantities of finite material resources. We apply life cycle assessment to 100 years of electricity generation from three stand‐alone RE technologies—solar photovoltaics, run‐of‐river hydro, and wind—to evaluate environmental burden profiles against baseline electricity generation from fossil fuels. We then devised scenarios to incorporate circular economy (CE) improvements targeting hotspots in systems’ life cycle, specifically (1) improved recycling rates for raw materials and (ii) the application of eco‐design. Hydro presented the lowest environmental burdens per kilowatt‐hour of electricity generation compared with other RE technologies, owing to its higher efficiency and longer life spans for main components. Distinct results were observed in the environmental performance of each system based on the consideration of improved recycling rates and eco‐design. CE measures produced similar modest savings in already low GHG emissions burdens for each technology, while eco‐design specifically had the potential to provide significant savings in abiotic resource depletion. Further research to explore the full potential of CE measures for RE technologies will curtail the resource intensity of RE technologies required to mitigate climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • John Gallagher & Biswajit Basu & Maria Browne & Alan Kenna & Sarah McCormack & Francesco Pilla & David Styles, 2019. "Adapting Stand‐Alone Renewable Energy Technologies for the Circular Economy through Eco‐Design and Recycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 133-140, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:23:y:2019:i:1:p:133-140
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12703
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Milousi, Maria & Souliotis, Manolis, 2023. "A circular economy approach to residential solar thermal systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 242-252.
    2. Mérida García, Aida & Gallagher, John & Rodríguez Díaz, Juan Antonio & McNabola, Aonghus, 2024. "An economic and environmental optimization model for sizing a hybrid renewable energy and battery storage system in off-grid farms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. Jha, Amit Prakash & Mahajan, Aarushi & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Kumar, Piyush, 2022. "Renewable energy proliferation for sustainable development: Role of cross-border electricity trade," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 1189-1199.
    4. Jiandong Chen & Chong Xu & Yinyin Wu & Zihao Li & Malin Song, 2022. "Drivers and trajectories of China’s renewable energy consumption," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 313(1), pages 441-459, June.
    5. Kosmadakis, Ioannis E. & Elmasides, Costas & Koulinas, Georgios & Tsagarakis, Konstantinos P., 2021. "Energy unit cost assessment of six photovoltaic-battery configurations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 24-41.
    6. Anna Manuella Melo Nunes & Luiz Moreira Coelho Junior & Raphael Abrahão & Edvaldo Pereira Santos Júnior & Flávio José Simioni & Paulo Rotella Junior & Luiz Célio Souza Rocha, 2023. "Public Policies for Renewable Energy: A Review of the Perspectives for a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-28, January.
    7. Mendoza, Joan Manuel F. & Gallego-Schmid, Alejandro & Velenturf, Anne P.M. & Jensen, Paul D. & Ibarra, Dorleta, 2022. "Circular economy business models and technology management strategies in the wind industry: Sustainability potential, industrial challenges and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    8. Varbanov, Petar Sabev & Wang, Bohong & Ocłoń, Paweł & Radziszewska-Zielina, Elżbieta & Ma, Ting & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Jia, Xuexiu, 2023. "Efficiency measures for energy supply and use aiming for a clean circular economy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).

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