IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i3p2822-d1057323.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production

Author

Listed:
  • Mariusz Niekurzak

    (Faculty of Management, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-067 Krakow, Poland)

  • Wojciech Lewicki

    (Faculty of Economics, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

  • Hasan Huseyin Coban

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Ardahan, Ardahan 75002, Turkey)

  • Agnieszka Brelik

    (Faculty of Economics, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland)

Abstract

The article presents the developed technology for the comprehensive recycling of depleted, used or damaged photovoltaic (PV) cells made of crystalline silicon. The developed concepts of technology and the results of research on recycling were presented on silicon photovoltaic cells and modules. The sequence of steps and the type of procedures used are proposed. A thermal delamination method for used commercial photovoltaic modules has been developed to separate the materials. In addition, a recycling line was proposed along with the selection of machines and a holistic approach to project profitability based on a SWOT analysis. The presented semi-automatic installation enables recycling on a laboratory scale. The line was designed for the assumed capacity of 30 t/h. The total energy demand for the designed line was calculated, which showed that 16.49 kWh is needed to recycle 1 ton of photovoltaic laminates. Implementation of developed solutions on an industrial scale will allow to reduce production costs, mainly thanks to energy savings, which translates into less devastation of the natural environment and reduced material consumption. In addition, the implementation of the PV module recycling system will reduce and, consequently, eliminate a significant amount of used PV devices deposited in landfills. The content of the article gives a fresh and innovative look at the essence of photovoltaic panel recycling processes in terms of production benefits as well as financial and environmental benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Hasan Huseyin Coban & Agnieszka Brelik, 2023. "Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2822-:d:1057323
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2822/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2822/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna Katharina Schnatmann & Fabian Schoden & Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, 2022. "Sustainable PV Module Design—Review of State-of-the-Art Encapsulation Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Wojciech Tomasz Ozdarski & Miroslawa Witkowska-Dabrowska & Ilisio Manuel de Jesus, 2021. "Feasibility Study Of The Use Of Renewable Energy Sources In Households," OLSZTYN ECONOMIC JOURNAL, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 16(2), pages 251-262, December.
    3. Jorge Torrubia & Alicia Valero & Antonio Valero & Anthony Lejuez, 2023. "Challenges and Opportunities for the Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from Electronic Waste: The Spanish Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Shazia Kousar & Farhan Ahmed & María de las Nieves López García & Nimra Ashraf, 2020. "Renewable Energy Consumption, Water Crises, and Environmental Degradation with Moderating Role of Governance: Dynamic Panel Analysis under Cross-Sectional Dependence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Mariusz Niekurzak, 2021. "The Potential of Using Renewable Energy Sources in Poland Taking into Account the Economic and Ecological Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.
    6. 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.
    7. Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Wojciech Drożdż & Paweł Miązek, 2022. "Measures for Assessing the Effectiveness of Investments for Electricity and Heat Generation from the Hybrid Cooperation of a Photovoltaic Installation with a Heat Pump on the Example of a Household," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Javier López Gómez & Ana Ogando Martínez & Francisco Troncoso Pastoriza & Lara Febrero Garrido & Enrique Granada Álvarez & José Antonio Orosa García, 2020. "Photovoltaic Power Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks and Numerical Weather Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    9. 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.
    10. Sina Herceg & Sebastián Pinto Bautista & Karl-Anders Weiß, 2020. "Influence of Waste Management on the Environmental Footprint of Electricity Produced by Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, May.
    11. Mariusz Niekurzak & Jerzy Mikulik, 2021. "Modeling of Energy Consumption and Reduction of Pollutant Emissions in a Walking Beam Furnace Using the Expert Method—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Piotr Wróblewski & Mariusz Niekurzak, 2022. "Assessment of the Possibility of Using Various Types of Renewable Energy Sources Installations in Single-Family Buildings as Part of Saving Final Energy Consumption in Polish Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    13. Magdalena Bogacka & Martyna Potempa & Bartłomiej Milewicz & Dariusz Lewandowski & Krzysztof Pikoń & Katarzyna Klejnowska & Piotr Sobik & Edyta Misztal, 2020. "PV Waste Thermal Treatment According to the Circular Economy Concept," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Maria A. Franco & Stefan N. Groesser, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of the Solar Photovoltaic Value Chain for a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-35, August.
    15. Mariusz Niekurzak, 2021. "Determining the Unit Values of the Allocation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions for the Production of Biofuels in the Life Cycle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    16. 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.
    17. Umair, Malik Muhammad & Zhang, Yuang & Iqbal, Kashif & Zhang, Shufen & Tang, Bingtao, 2019. "Novel strategies and supporting materials applied to shape-stabilize organic phase change materials for thermal energy storage–A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 846-873.
    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. Wojciech Lewicki & Mariusz Niekurzak, 2024. "Strategic Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Ski Resorts as Part of the Polish Energy Policy Project," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-27, June.
    2. Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Jacek Wróbel, 2024. "Efficiency Assessment of the Production of Alternative Fuels of High Usable Quality within the Circular Economy: An Example from the Cement Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Xing Liu & Xiaojing Zhang & Aliasghar Baziar, 2023. "Hybrid Machine Learning and Modified Teaching Learning-Based English Optimization Algorithm for Smart City Communication," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.

    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. Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Wojciech Drożdż & Paweł Miązek, 2022. "Measures for Assessing the Effectiveness of Investments for Electricity and Heat Generation from the Hybrid Cooperation of a Photovoltaic Installation with a Heat Pump on the Example of a Household," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Piotr Wróblewski & Mariusz Niekurzak, 2022. "Assessment of the Possibility of Using Various Types of Renewable Energy Sources Installations in Single-Family Buildings as Part of Saving Final Energy Consumption in Polish Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    3. Magdalena Kapłan & Kamila Klimek & Grzegorz Maj & Dmytro Zhuravel & Andrii Bondar & Viktoriia Lemeshchenko-Lagoda & Boris Boltianskyi & Larysa Boltianska & Hanna Syrotyuk & Serhiy Syrotyuk & Ryszard K, 2022. "Method of Evaluation of Materials Wear of Cylinder-Piston Group of Diesel Engines in the Biodiesel Fuel Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-28, May.
    4. Fabian Schoden & Anna Katharina Schnatmann & Tomasz Blachowicz & Hildegard Manz-Schumacher & Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, 2022. "Circular Design Principles Applied on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-32, November.
    5. Aşkın, Asmin & Kılkış, Şiir & Akınoğlu, Bülent Gültekin, 2023. "Recycling photovoltaic modules within a circular economy approach and a snapshot for Türkiye," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 583-596.
    6. Yichang Zhang & Sha He & Min Pang & Qiong Li, 2023. "Green Technology Innovation of Energy Internet Enterprises: Study on Influencing Factors under Dual Carbon Goals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Mariusz Niekurzak & Wojciech Lewicki & Agnieszka Brelik, 2022. "The Challenges for Social and Economic Policy Related to the Energy Transformation - Analysis of Profitability and Minimizing the Risk of Deciding to Invest in a Home Micro-Installation," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 144-159.
    8. 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.
    9. Liao, Qijun & Li, Shaoyuan & Xi, Fengshuo & Tong, Zhongqiu & Chen, Xiuhua & Wan, Xiaohan & Ma, Wenhui & Deng, Rong, 2023. "High-performance silicon carbon anodes based on value-added recycling strategy of end-of-life photovoltaic modules," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    10. Li, Zhenpeng & Ma, Tao & Zhao, Jiaxin & Song, Aotian & Cheng, Yuanda, 2019. "Experimental study and performance analysis on solar photovoltaic panel integrated with phase change material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 471-486.
    11. 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.
    12. Biesuz, Mattia & Valentini, Francesco & Bortolotti, Mauro & Zambotti, Andrea & Cestari, Francesca & Bruni, Angela & Sglavo, Vincenzo M. & Sorarù, Gian D. & Dorigato, Andrea & Pegoretti, Alessandro, 2021. "Biogenic architectures for green, cheap, and efficient thermal energy storage and management," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 96-107.
    13. Ren, Miao & Zhao, Hua & Gao, Xiaojian, 2022. "Effect of modified diatomite based shape-stabilized phase change materials on multiphysics characteristics of thermal storage mortar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    14. Jiang, Liang & Lei, Yuan & Liu, Qinfeng & Lei, Jingxin, 2020. "Polyethylene glycol based self-luminous phase change materials for both thermal and light energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    15. Drissi, Sarra & Ling, Tung-Chai & Mo, Kim Hung & Eddhahak, Anissa, 2019. "A review of microencapsulated and composite phase change materials: Alteration of strength and thermal properties of cement-based materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 467-484.
    16. Mariusz Niekurzak & Jerzy Mikulik, 2021. "Modeling of Energy Consumption and Reduction of Pollutant Emissions in a Walking Beam Furnace Using the Expert Method—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, December.
    17. Huo, Ying-Jie & Yan, Ting & Wu, Shao-Fei & Kuai, Zi-Han & Pan, Wei-Guo, 2024. "Preparation and thermal properties of palmitic acid/copper foam phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    18. Rami David Orejon-Sanchez & Jose Ramon Andres-Diaz & Alfonso Gago-Calderon, 2021. "Autonomous Photovoltaic LED Urban Street Lighting: Technical, Economic, and Social Viability Analysis Based on a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.
    19. D'Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Morone, Piergiuseppe & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2022. "Economics and policy implications of residential photovoltaic systems in Italy's developed market," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    20. Rostami, Sara & Afrand, Masoud & Shahsavar, Amin & Sheikholeslami, M. & Kalbasi, Rasool & Aghakhani, Saeed & Shadloo, Mostafa Safdari & Oztop, Hakan F., 2020. "A review of melting and freezing processes of PCM/nano-PCM and their application in energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).

    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:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2822-:d:1057323. 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.