Photovoltaic (PV) technology is one of the most promising technologies for improving energy security and mitigating climate change. Managing end-of-life PV modules to recover valuable materials that can displace virgin ones is an important step toward meeting the challenge of sustainability.

The PV technology is regarded as the most environmentally friendly technologies of all energy and electricity generation technologies, particularly when evaluated from a life-cycle viewpoint, including end-of-life management. Proper end-of-life management is an indispensable issue for “clean” energy technologies.

With PV deployment increasing exponentially, the number of PV modules that reach the end of useful life will also greatly increase after the time lag of operation, accumulating proportionately as waste.

Recycling technologies must be available to address future waste from end-of-life PV modules. End-of-life management with material recovery is preferable to disposal in terms of environmental impacts and resource efficiency as a way to manage end-of-life PV systems. When recycling processes themselves are efficient, recycling not only reduces waste and waste-related emissions but also offers the potential for reducing the energy use and emissions related to virgin-material production.

Thus, 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) are important opportunities for the long-term management of resource-constrained metals used in PV modules.

(1) Reduce - the raw material inputs and toxicity for both c-Si and thin-film technologies significantly.

(2.1) Reuse - opportunities in an associated secondary market for panel components and materials.

(2.2) Repair - (repaired) PV modules can be resold on the world market at a reduced market price.

(2.3) Refurbish - (refurbished) PV may meet expectations of a second owner despite of underperforming panels by standards of the first owner.

(3) Recycle - one of the main modules from existing plants that were built for material recovery of major components to meet current regulatory requirements.

Among the 3Rs, recycling system and its associated regulatory schemes to deal with PV end-of-life management issues have recently emerged for sustainable waste management in anticipation of the large volume of waste PV modules and to continue to be considered a clean energy technology.

Photo by Micheal Wilson from Unsplash