End-of-Life Photovoltaic Modules

Jovan Tan, Shuyue Jia and Seeram Ramakrishna
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Jovan Tan: Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
Shuyue Jia: Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
Seeram Ramakrishna: Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: More than 78 million tons of photovoltaic modules (PVMs) will reach their end of life (EOL) by 2050. If they are not responsibly managed, they can (a) pollute our terrestrial ecosystem, (b) indirectly encourage continuous mining and extraction of Earth’s finite resources, and (c) diminish the net environmental benefit of harvesting solar energy. Conversely, successfully recovering them could reduce resource extraction and waste and generate sufficient economic return and value to finance the production of another 2 billion PVMs by 2050. Therefore, EOL PVMs must participate in the circular economy, and business and political leaders are actively devising strategies to enable their participation. This article aims to facilitate and expedite their efforts by comprehensively reviewing and presenting the latest progress and developments in EOL PVM recovery methods and processes. It also identifies and thoroughly discusses several interrelated observations that impede or accelerate their efforts. Overall, our approach to this article differs but synergistically complements and builds upon existing life cycle assessment-based (LCA-based) contributions.

Keywords: life cycle; circular economy; circularity; end-of-life; solar energy; photovoltaics; energy decarbonization; energy systems; photovoltaic modules; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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