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Evaluating the Availability of Gallium, Indium, and Tellurium from Recycled Photovoltaic Modules

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Redlinger

    (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines)

  • Roderick Eggert

    (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines)

  • Michael Woodhouse

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Abstract

The use of thin-film copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) and cadmium-telluride (CdTe) in solar technologies has grown rapidly in recent years, leading to an increased demand for gallium, indium, and tellurium. In the coming years, recycling these elements from end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules may be an important part of their overall supply, but little is known about the economic feasibility and the potential quantities available. This article investigates the future role of PV recycling in supplying gallium, indium, and tellurium. The authors evaluate both the quantities available from recycling over the next century and the associated costs for recycling modules and reusing each mineral in PV manufacturing. The findings indicate that, in terms of technical potential, there may be significant quantities of each mineral potentially available from recycling CIGS and CdTe modules. In terms of costs, recovering each element from end-of-life PV modules and reusing it in PV manufacturing is estimated to cost more than the current raw mineral costs. These findings help improve the understanding of recycling's role in enabling higher levels of CIGS and CdTe cell production.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Redlinger & Roderick Eggert & Michael Woodhouse, 2014. "Evaluating the Availability of Gallium, Indium, and Tellurium from Recycled Photovoltaic Modules," Working Papers 2014-09, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:mns:wpaper:wp201409
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    File URL: http://econbus-papers.mines.edu/working-papers/wp201409.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Fthenakis, Vasilis M., 2000. "End-of-life management and recycling of PV modules," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(14), pages 1051-1058, November.
    5. Fthenakis, Vasilis M., 2004. "Life cycle impact analysis of cadmium in CdTe PV production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 303-334, August.
    6. McDonald, N.C. & Pearce, J.M., 2010. "Producer responsibility and recycling solar photovoltaic modules," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7041-7047, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Frenzel, Max & Mikolajczak, Claire & Reuter, Markus A. & Gutzmer, Jens, 2017. "Quantifying the relative availability of high-tech by-product metals – The cases of gallium, germanium and indium," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 327-335.
    2. Divya Tiwari & Jill Miscandlon & Ashutosh Tiwari & Geraint W. Jewell, 2021. "A Review of Circular Economy Research for Electric Motors and the Role of Industry 4.0 Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-19, August.

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