Assessing Variability in Toxicity Testing of PV Modules

Environmental and Circular Economy Implications of Solar Energy in a Decarbonized U.S. Grid

“…76 The variability in the design and material content of PV modules can introduce variability in the results for toxicity compliance (e.g., toxicity characteristic leaching procedure [TCLP]), so the toxicity test will change based on the method used to obtain samples from the PV module. 258 To address recycling challenges due to the variability in module design and material content, a repository of the different PV module designs and material content, which stakeholders can access and continually update, could be beneficial. The repository could facilitate collaboration and information sharing between PV manufacturers and recyclers, address the concerns of data confidentiality of the manufacturer, increase transparency on the design and material constitution of past and present PV modules, ensure repeatability of results and compliance with toxicity tests (e.g., TCLP 259 ), and help better customize recycling strategies.…”