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A Review of Recycling Processes for Photovoltaic Modules

In: Solar Panels and Photovoltaic Materials

Author

Listed:
  • Marina Monteiro Lunardi
  • Juan Pablo Alvarez-Gaitan
  • Jose I. Bilbao
  • Richard Corkish

Abstract

The installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules are growing extremely fast. As a result of the increase, the volume of modules that reach the end of their life will grow at the same rate in the near future. It is expected that by 2050 that figure will increase to 5.5-6 million tons. Consequently, methods for recycling solar modules are being developed worldwide to reduce the environmental impact of PV waste and to recover some of the value from old modules. Current recycling methods can recover just a portion of the materials, so there is plenty of room for progress in this area. Currently, Europe is the only jurisdiction that has a strong and clear regulatory framework to support the PV recycling process. This review presents a summary of possible PV recycling processes for solar modules, including c-Si and thin-film technologies as well as an overview of the global legislation. So far, recycling processes of c-Si modules are unprofitable but are likely to be mandated in more jurisdictions. There is potential to develop new pathways for PV waste management industry development and offer employment and prospects for both public and private sector investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Monteiro Lunardi & Juan Pablo Alvarez-Gaitan & Jose I. Bilbao & Richard Corkish, 2018. "A Review of Recycling Processes for Photovoltaic Modules," Chapters, in: Beddiaf Zaidi (ed.), Solar Panels and Photovoltaic Materials, IntechOpen.
    • Handle: RePEc:ito:pchaps:141828
    DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.74390
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    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. Jain, Suresh & Sharma, Tanya & Gupta, Anil Kumar, 2022. "End-of-life management of solar PV waste in India: Situation analysis and proposed policy framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Antonio Rubino & Giuseppe Granata & Emanuela Moscardini & Ludovica Baldassari & Pietro Altimari & Luigi Toro & Francesca Pagnanelli, 2020. "Development and Techno-Economic Analysis of an Advanced Recycling Process for Photovoltaic Panels Enabling Polymer Separation and Recovery of Ag and Si," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Elizabeth Markert & Ilke Celik & Defne Apul, 2020. "Private and Externality Costs and Benefits of Recycling Crystalline Silicon (c-Si) Photovoltaic Panels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Deng, Rong & Chang, Nathan L. & Ouyang, Zi & Chong, Chee Mun, 2019. "A techno-economic review of silicon photovoltaic module recycling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 532-550.
    7. Ricardo A. Marques Lameirinhas & João Paulo N. Torres & João P. de Melo Cunha, 2022. "A Photovoltaic Technology Review: History, Fundamentals and Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-44, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    recycling; life-cycle; photovoltaic; waste; end-of-life;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General

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