Sustainable Treatment of Spent Photovoltaic Solar Panels Using Plasma Pyrolysis Technology and Its Economic Significance

Ping Fa Chiang (), Shanshan Han, Mugabekazi Joie Claire, Ndungutse Jean Maurice (), Mohammadtaghi Vakili and Abdulmoseen Segun Giwa ()
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Ping Fa Chiang: School of Economics and Management, Nanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330000, China
Shanshan Han: School of Economics and Management, Nanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330000, China
Mugabekazi Joie Claire: College of Geomatics, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Ndungutse Jean Maurice: Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
Mohammadtaghi Vakili: Orlen Unicre a.s., Revoluční 1521/84, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Abdulmoseen Segun Giwa: School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330000, China

Clean Technol., 2024, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: In the past few decades, the solar energy market has increased significantly, with an increasing number of photovoltaic (PV) modules being deployed around the world each year. Some believe that these PV modules have a lifespan of around 25–30 years. As their lifetime is limited, solar panels wind up in the waste stream after their end of life (EoL). Several ecological challenges are associated with their inappropriate disposal due to the presence of hazardous heavy metals (HMs). Some studies have reported different treatment technologies, including pyrolysis, stabilization, physical separation, landfill, and the use of chemicals. Each proposed treatment technique pollutes the environment and underutilizes the potential resources present in discarded solar panels (DSPs). This review recommends thermal plasma pyrolysis as a promising treatment technology. This process will have significant advantages, such as preventing toxic HMs from contaminating the soil and groundwater, reducing the amount of e-waste from DSPs in an environmentally friendly and economical way, and allows the utilization of the valuable resources contained in EoL photovoltaic solar panel modules by converting them into hydrogen-rich syngas to generate thermal energy, electricity, and non-leachable slag that can be used as an additive in other treatment processes or as a conditioner to improve soil properties. However, plasma pyrolysis uses a high temperature to break down waste materials, a challenge which can be offset by the integration of this process in anaerobic digestion (AD), as the slag from plasma pyrolysis can be used as an additive in AD treatments to produce high yields of biogas and improve nutrient recovery. Moreover, the produced energy from both processes can operate the entire plant in which they take place and increase the net energy production, a resource which can be sold for an additional income. Future challenges and recommendations are also highlighted.

Keywords: photovoltaic solar panels; thermal plasma pyrolysis; heavy metals; resource utilization; circular design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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