Potential Impact of Consumer Intention on Generation of Waste Photovoltaic Panels: A Case Study for Tokyo

Shinsuke Murakami, Haruhisa Yamamoto and Terufumi Toyota
Additional contact information
Shinsuke Murakami: Department of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Haruhisa Yamamoto: Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Terufumi Toyota: Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: As the world moves toward decarbonization, Japan is experiencing a rapid introduction of solar modules. However, the country does not have an adequate social system for managing waste photovoltaic (PV) panels. A waste generation estimate would be needed to do this effectively. Usually, waste generation estimation is performed by assuming that the lifespan distribution is primarily dependent on the mechanical life of the target item. However, considering the continuing improvement in panel quality, consumers consider replacement or disposal before mechanical failure of the product. Therefore, to study consumer intention, we surveyed potential consumer decision making on replacement/disposal via a questionnaire survey and attempted to include the result as part of our waste panel generation estimation, which, to our knowledge, has never previously been carried out. Considering the owners’ decision making, waste panel generation was in advance compared with the case where we only assumed the mechanical failure of panels and housings. This indicated a huge number of potentially reusable panel generations. In addition to mechanical failure, waste panel generation due to owners’ decisions should also be considered for estimating maximum potential waste. Policy makers should prepare the appropriate recycling social system in advance, considering the possible reuse of panels, which fits the current social situation oriented toward a circular economy.

Keywords: waste PV panels; generation forecast; consumer’s intention; Tokyo (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/19/10507/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/19/10507/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:19:p:10507-:d:640506

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().