IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i14p5113-d862091.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

End-of-Life Photovoltaic Modules

Author

Listed:
  • Jovan Tan

    (Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
    Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, Solar Energy System Cluster, Singapore 117574, Singapore
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Shuyue Jia

    (Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Seeram Ramakrishna

    (Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
    Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, Solar Energy System Cluster, Singapore 117574, Singapore)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Jovan Tan & Shuyue Jia & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2022. "End-of-Life Photovoltaic Modules," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5113-:d:862091
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5113/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5113/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. F. W. T., 1900. "Preliminary Report of Industrial Commission," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 14(3), pages 430-432.
    2. Jovan Tan & Fabien Jianwei Tan & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2022. "Transitioning to a Circular Economy: A Systematic Review of Its Drivers and Barriers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Dingus, Peter & Garnett, James & Wang, Shumin & Chong, Chaehwi, 2021. "Low cost single crystal CdZnTe-Silicon tandem PV," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 659-667.
    4. Leena Grandell & Mikael Höök, 2015. "Assessing Rare Metal Availability Challenges for Solar Energy Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Klugmann-Radziemska, Ewa & Ostrowski, Piotr, 2010. "Chemical treatment of crystalline silicon solar cells as a method of recovering pure silicon from photovoltaic modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1751-1759.
    6. W. J. A., 1893. "Report on Prices and Wages by the Senate Committee," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 8(1), pages 104-108.
    7. Energy and Industry Department, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam, 2016. "Brunei Darussalam Country Report," Chapters, in: Shigeru Kimura & Han Phoumin (ed.), Energy Outlook and Energy Saving Potential in East Asia 2016, chapter 3, pages 79-90, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    8. Kang, Sukmin & Yoo, Sungyeol & Lee, Jina & Boo, Bonghyun & Ryu, Hojin, 2012. "Experimental investigations for recycling of silicon and glass from waste photovoltaic modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 152-159.
    9. Unknown, . "Treasurer'S Report: May 28, 1993," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 25(1), pages 1-4.
    10. Anonymous, 0. "Report Of Subcommittee On International Affairs," Increasing Understanding of Public Problems and Policies, Farm Foundation.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Iliana Papamichael & Irene Voukkali & Mejdi Jeguirim & Nikolaos Argirusis & Salah Jellali & Georgia Sourkouni & Christos Argirusis & Antonis A. Zorpas, 2022. "End-of-Life Management and Recycling on PV Solar Energy Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-5, September.
    2. D'Adamo, Idiano & Mammetti, Marco & Ottaviani, Dario & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2023. "Photovoltaic systems and sustainable communities: New social models for ecological transition. The impact of incentive policies in profitability analyses," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 1291-1304.
    3. Adrian Czajkowski & Agata Wajda & Nikolina Poranek & Shubhangi Bhadoria & Leszek Remiorz, 2022. "Prediction of the Market of End-of-Life Photovoltaic Panels in the Context of Common EU Management System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Farrell, C.C. & Osman, A.I. & Doherty, R. & Saad, M. & Zhang, X. & Murphy, A. & Harrison, J. & Vennard, A.S.M. & Kumaravel, V. & Al-Muhtaseb, A.H. & Rooney, D.W., 2020. "Technical challenges and opportunities in realising a circular economy for waste photovoltaic modules," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Jun-Kyu Lee & Jin-Seok Lee & Young-Soo Ahn & Gi-Hwan Kang, 2019. "Restoring the Reactivity of Organic Acid Solution Used for Silver Recovery from Solar Cells by Fractional Distillation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-9, July.
    3. El-Khawad, Livia & Bartkowiak, Dorota & Kümmerer, Klaus, 2022. "Improving the end-of-life management of solar panels in Germany," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Cucchiella, Federica & D׳Adamo, Idiano & Rosa, Paolo, 2015. "End-of-Life of used photovoltaic modules: A financial analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 552-561.
    5. Yan Li & Ge Wang & Bo Shen & Qi Zhang & Boyu Liu & Ruoxi Xu, 2021. "Conception and policy implications of photovoltaic modules end‐of‐life management in China," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(1), January.
    6. Jongwon Ko & Kyunghwan Kim & Ji Woo Sohn & Hongjun Jang & Hae-Seok Lee & Donghwan Kim & Yoonmook Kang, 2023. "Review on Separation Processes of End-of-Life Silicon Photovoltaic Modules," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Hu, Xueyue & Wang, Chunying & Elshkaki, Ayman, 2024. "Material-energy Nexus: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    8. Kang, Sukmin & Yoo, Sungyeol & Lee, Jina & Boo, Bonghyun & Ryu, Hojin, 2012. "Experimental investigations for recycling of silicon and glass from waste photovoltaic modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 152-159.
    9. Hui Fang Yu & Md. Hasanuzzaman & Nasrudin Abd Rahim & Norridah Amin & Noriah Nor Adzman, 2022. "Global Challenges and Prospects of Photovoltaic Materials Disposal and Recycling: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-41, July.
    10. Ian Ayres & John J. Donohue, 2009. "Yet Another Refutation of the More Guns, Less Crime Hypothesis—With Some Help From Moody and Marvell," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 6(1), pages 35-59, January.
    11. Domínguez, Adriana & Geyer, Roland, 2019. "Photovoltaic waste assessment of major photovoltaic installations in the United States of America," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 1188-1200.
    12. Liang, Yanan & Kleijn, René & Tukker, Arnold & van der Voet, Ester, 2022. "Material requirements for low-carbon energy technologies: A quantitative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    13. Joanicjusz Nazarko & Ewa Chodakowska & Łukasz Nazarko, 2022. "Evaluating the Transition of the European Union Member States towards a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.
    14. Thaib Alharethi & Ayman Abdelhakim & Ahmad Mohammed, 2024. "Drivers and Barriers towards Circular Economy in Rural Tourism Destinations: A Case Study of Tunis Village, Egypt," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Andrea Molocchi, 2021. "Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability: A Policy Coherence Analysis of Current Italian Subsidies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-38, July.
    16. Altaf Hossain Molla & Hilal Shams & Zambri Harun & Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman & Hawa Hishamuddin, 2022. "An Assessment of Drivers and Barriers to Implementation of Circular Economy in the End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling Sector in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-25, October.
    17. Andrea Mulazzani & Panagiotis Eleftheriadis & Sonia Leva, 2022. "Recycling c-Si PV Modules: A Review, a Proposed Energy Model and a Manufacturing Comparison," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.
    18. Aleksandra Ziemińska-Stolarska & Monika Pietrzak & Ireneusz Zbiciński, 2021. "Application of LCA to Determine Environmental Impact of Concentrated Photovoltaic Solar Panels—State-of-the-Art," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, May.
    19. Dongmin Son & Songi Kim & Hyungbin Park & Bongju Jeong, 2018. "Closed-Loop Supply Chain Planning Model of Rare Metals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    20. Zambri Harun & Altaf Hossain Molla & Mohd Radzi Abu Mansor & Rozmi Ismail, 2022. "Development, Critical Evaluation, and Proposed Framework: End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-25, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5113-:d:862091. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.