Query: Producer responsibility and recycling solar photovoltaic modules

Candidate papers:

abstract: Rapid expansion of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is quickly causing solar to play a growing importance in the energy mix of the world. Over the full life cycle, although to a smaller degree than traditional energy sources, PV also creates solid waste. This paper examines the potential need for PV recycling policies by analyzing existing recycling protocols for the five major types of commercialized PV materials. The amount of recoverable semiconductor material and glass in a 1 m2 area solar module for the five types of cells is quantified both physically and the profit potential of recycling is determined. The cost of landfill disposal of the whole solar module, including the glass and semiconductor was also determined for each type of solar module. It was found that the economic motivation to recycle most PV modules is unfavorable without appropriate policies. Results are discussed on the need to regulate for appropriate energy and environmental policy in the PV manufacturing industry particularly for PV containing hazardous materials. The results demonstrate the need to encourage producer responsibility not only in the PV manufacturing sector, but also the entire energy industry.
author_names: Nicole C McDonald

Joshua M Pearce
title: Producer Responsibility and Recycling Solar Photovoltaic Modules
year: 2010

abstract: This review focuses on inverter technologies for connecting photovoltaic (PV) modules to a single phase grid. The inverters are categorized into four classifications: 1) the number of power processing stages in cascade; 2) the type of power decoupling between the PV module(s) and the single phase grid; 3) whether they utilizes a transformer (either line or high frequency) or not; and 4) the type of grid connected power stage. Various inverter topologies are presented, compared, and evaluated against demands, lifetime, component ratings, and cost. Finally, some of the topologies are pointed out as the best candidates for either single PV module or multiple PV module applications.
author_names: S B Kjaer

John Kim Pedersen

Frede Blaabjerg
title: A review of single phase grid connected inverters for photovoltaic modules
venue: IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications
year: 2005

abstract: Environmental regulations can have a significant impact on product use, disposal, and recycling. This report summarizes the basic aspects of current federal, state and international regulations which apply to end of life photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV manufacturing scrap destined for disposal or recycling. It also discusses proposed regulations for electronics that may set the ground of what is to be expected in this area in the near future. In the US, several states have started programs to support the recycling of electronic equipment, and materials destined for recycling often are excepted from solid waste regulations during the collection, transfer, storage and processing stages. California regulations are described separately because they are different from those of most other states. International agreements on the movement of waste between different countries may pose barriers to cross border shipments. Currently waste moves freely among country members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and between the US and the four countries with which the US has bilateral agreements. However, it is expected, that the US will adopt the rules of the Basel Convention (an agreement which currently applies to 128 countries but not the US) and that the Convection's waste classification system will influence the current OECD waste handling system. Some countries adopting the Basel Convention consider end of life electronics to be hazardous waste, whereas the OECD countries consider them to be non hazardous. Also, waste management regulations potentially affecting electronics in Germany and Japan are mentioned in this report.
author_names: Vasilis M Fthenakis
title: REGULATIONS ON PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING.
year: 2001

abstract: Abstract Given the rapid increase in production and installation of PV systems, recycling of PV modules is becoming more and more important. In this paper, three types of recycling pathways from perspectives of close loop life cycle, which are manufacturing waste recycling, disposed module remanufacturing and recycling, are investigated. For each pathway, proven technologies are presented and their advantages and drawbacks are described. The results show that recycling technologies for PV manufacturing wastes and end of life modules are wildly explored and some are commercially available, although the challenges still remain in process efficiency, reduction in process complexity, energy requirements, and use of chemicals. Some research has been conducted on remanufacturing and reuse of PV modules. The ease to disassembly design may improve the reusability of valuable components. It is also found that though studies showed that PV module manufacturing waste recycling and end of life module recycling have significant positive impacts on the reducing environment loads, economic viability of PV module recycling is still unfavorable and policies are needed to encourage producer responsibility not only in the PV manufacturing sector but also in the entire energy industry, and an efficient collection network should be important to the economic viability of PV module recycling business.
author_names: Jing Tao

Suiran Yu
title: Review on feasible recycling pathways and technologies of solar photovoltaic modules
year: 2015

abstract: The thesis points out practical problems of waste management within the Photovoltaic industry and conclusions are based on empirical data. Benefits for photovoltaic key stakeholders, like module manufacturers, governments and power plant owners are investigated. The conclusions drawn are based on interviews, literature review and online research. So far recycling of crystalline photovoltaic modules is regulated only within the European Union. Current directives governing photovoltaic modules frame the recycling targets in terms of weight. But the loss of resources like aluminium and silver, as well as lead and cadmium leaching have a negative impact on the environment and human health if modules are merely discharged after their life cycle. Eventually these materials will become scarce and affect the future production of photovoltaic modules. Therefore looking at the environmental impact of each raw material is a different, more sustainable approach. Yet, environmental effects are so far not being considered in the stakeholders' decision making. The thesis shows that for manufacturers the main incentives to recycle are profit maximisation and image improvement. Including a recycling strategy into the manufacturing process is therefore actually increases competitiveness within the photovoltaic business. In order to raise awareness for photovoltaic waste, it is suggested to include the photovoltaic modules' decommissioning time into Gantt Charts which might influence photovoltaic owners to purchase modules that are recycled after their life span. A future key development is likely to see recycled materials to be reused for new PV products and substituting materials that are harmful to human health and the environment. An overview of the current technology, legal framework and waste projection for the recycling industry is given in chapter 3 and 4.
author_names: Agathe Auer
title: Photovoltaic module decommissioning and recycling in Europe and Japan
year: 2015

abstract: This work deals with methods of recycling of photov ltaic modules and evaluates contribution of recycl ing to the environment and reduction of raw materials extraction. The article d scribes the materials needed to manufacture photo voltaic modules and energy intensity of production processes. Three methods of recycling were used thermal, chemical and mechanical. The experiments have shown that the recycling of PV modules by thermal method is more a dvantageous than using a chemical method. The lengt h of the process is significantly shorter and there are lower financial costs. The di sa vantage of thermal treatment is the formation of emission gases during decomposition of the EVA copolymer and also a risk of wafer damag e. In mechanical recycling process it is very impor tant to know which technologies and devices are suitable to creation of crushed materia l. If the PV modules are bigger than 1 x 1 m, it wa s necessary to divide them into two parts because the chain crusher must be able to crush the piec s as effectively as possible. From the entire mechanical recycling process it can be seen that the silver containing crushed material up to 0.07 is not economically advantageous to proc ess chemically. The silver content does not cover the cost of basic operations during recycling process. The obtained data were used to c alculate the amount of saved material due to PV module recycling until year 2025. Recycli ng could save up to 351 500 tons of glass, 51 500 t ons of aluminium, 13 567 silicon and 425 tons of silver in Czech Republic.
author_names: David Strachala

Josef Hylsky

Gunter Fafilek

Kristyna Jandova
title: Methods for recycling photovoltaic modules and their impact on environment and raw material extraction
year: 2017

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.
author_names: Marina Lunardi

Juan Pablo Alvarez-Gaitan

Jose I Bilbao

Richard Corkish
title: A Review of Recycling Processes for Photovoltaic Modules
year: 2018

abstract: Abstract In comparison to other energy producing techniques, photovoltaics (PV) is one of the most promising options: no emission of any matter into the environment during operation; extremely long operation period (estimated average: 25 years) minimum maintenance, robust technique, aesthetic aspects. The use of photovoltaics is rapidly increasing, and the respective market is developing accordingly. Although PV manufacturing equipment is now excluded from the scope of RoHS, according to the Kyoto Protocol and the EU Directives WEEE and RoHS the use of hazardous substances in electric/electronic devices has to be reduced stepwise to approximately zero level. Furthermore, a total recycling of nearly all materials involved is aimed. Thus, major attention is directed to avoidance of environmental pollution through combustion or landfill, to regain valuable material, to promote the development and use of renewable energy sources. As the lifetime of PV cells themselves is much longer than that of PV modules and the manufacturing process of cells requires much energy consumption, the reuse of base material of the cells is economically justified. The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate existing methods of PV cells and modules recycling. The article discusses the main outcomes and analyses the significance of recycling in relation to the environmental profile of the production and total life cycle of photovoltaic cells and modules Abstrakt W porownaniu do innych metod produkcji energii, technologia fotowoltaiczna jest jedna z najbardziej obiecujacych opcji: brak emisji z substancji do srodowiska podczas pracy, bardzo dlugi okres eksploatacji (szacowany srednio na 25 lat) minimalna koniecznosc konserwacji, solidna technika, atuty estetyczne. Rynek modulow fotowoltaicznych na swiecie rozwija sie intensywnie, a stale rosnacy udzial modulow fotowoltaicznych (PV) w swiatowej produkcji energii elektrycznej powoduje, iz zwiekszajaca sie ilosc odpadow w postaci zuzytych lub uszkodzonych ogniw i modulow PV spowoduje w najblizszych latach koniecznosc bardziej racjonalnego ich zagospodarowania. Aby moduly fotowoltaiczne pozostaly bez negatywnego wplywu na srodowisko, konieczne jest wprowadzenie dlugofalowej strategii obejmujacej kompletny ,cykl zycia" wszystkich elementow systemu: od fazy produkcji, poprzez montaz i eksploatacje az do utylizacji. Recykling odpadow produkcyjnych i zuzytych systemow jest istotnym elementem tej strategii. Korzysci srodowiskowe recyklingu sa zwiazane nie tylko z ograniczeniem miejsca na skladowiskach odpadow, ale rowniez z oszczednoscia energii, surowcow i ograniczeniem emisji. Celem pracy bylo przedstawienie i ocena istniejacych metod recyklingu ogniw i modulow fotowoltaicznych oraz wplywu tego procesu na srodowisko naturalne
author_names: Ewa Klugmann-Radziemska
title: Current Trends in Recycling of Photovoltaic Solar Cells and Modules Waste Recykling Zuzytych Ogniw I Modulow Fotowoltaicznych Stan Obecny
year: 2012

abstract: Solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment has grown at unprecedented rates since the early 2000s. As the global PV market increases, so will the volume of decommissioned PV panels, and large amounts of annual waste are anticipated by the early 2030s. Growing PV panel waste presents a new environmental challenge, but also unprecedented opportunities to create value and pursue new economic avenues. This report, prepared jointly by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) is the first ever projection of PV panel waste volumes to 2050. It highlights that recycling or repurposing solar PV panels at the end of their roughly 30 year lifetime can unlock an estimated stock of 78 million tonnes of raw materials and other valuable components globally by 2050. If fully injected back into the economy, the value of the recovered material could exceed USD 15 billion by 2050. Sectors like PV recycling will be essential in the world's transition to a sustainable, economically viable and increasingly renewables based energy future. To unlock the benefits of such PV end of life industries, the institutional groundwork must be laid in time to meet the expected surge in panel waste. Policy action is needed to addressmore the challenges ahead, with enabling frameworks being adapted to the needs and circumstances of each region or country. less
author_names: Stephanie Weckend

Andreas Wade

Garvin A Heath
title: End of Life Management: Solar Photovoltaic Panels
year: 2016

abstract: Current global commitments to tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are resulting in increasing demand for wind energy technologies as a secure, affordable supply of energy. However, the recent expansion of wind energy generation is creating a growing waste disposal issue associated with the decommissioning of wind turbine (WT) blades in the future.
author_names: Ruth Cherrington

Vannessa Goodship

James Meredith

Benjamin M Wood

Stuart R Coles

Andre Vuillaume

A Feito-Boirac

F Spee

Kerry Kirwan
title: Producer responsibility: Defining the incentive for recycling composite wind turbine blades in Europe
year: 2012