Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of End-of-Life Silicon Solar Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract

Abstract:The cumulative global photovoltaic (PV) waste reached 250,000 metric tonnes by the end of 2016 and is expected to increase considerably in the future. Hence, adequate end-of-life (EoL) management for PV modules must be developed. Today, most of the EoL modules go to landfill, mainly because recycling processes for PV modules are not yet economically feasible and regulation in most countries is not yet well established. Nevertheless, several methods for recycling PV modules are under development. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology that quantifies the environmental impacts of a process or a product. An attributional LCA was undertaken to compare landfill, incineration, reuse and recycling (mechanical, thermal and chemical routes) of EoL crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar modules, based on a combination of real process data and assumptions. The results show that recovery of materials from solar modules results in lower environmental impacts compared to other EoL scenarios, considering our assumptions. The impacts could be even lower with the adoption of more complex processes that can reclaim more materials. Although recycling processes can achieve good recycling rates and recover almost all materials from solar modules, attention must be paid to the use of toxic substances during the chemical routes of recycling and to the distance to recycling centres due to the impacts of transportation.

Resource efficient recovery of critical and precious metals from waste silicon PV panel recycling

“…Analysis of the FRELP process proved that transport is one of the main aspects responsible for the impacts of PV recycling (Latunussa et al, 2016). Lunardi et al (2018) concluded that transport of PV waste to the recycling facilities should be below 100 km for recycling being environmental convenient compared to other alternatives (e.g. direct incineration or landfilling).…”

Life Cycle Assessment for the Production Phase of Nano-Silica-Modified Asphalt Mixtures

“…In a similar description, Ref. [18] defines LCA as a methodology that quantifies the environmental impacts of a process or a product. In their study, Ref.…”

“…LCA is described as a 'cradle to grave' method for the evaluation of environmental impacts [17]. In a similar description, [18] defines LCA as a methodology that quantifies the environmental impacts of a process or a product. In their study, [19] stated that most of the environmental impacts do not occur in the use, maintenance, and repair of the product but during the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal stages.…”

The costs comparison of producing, exploitation and utilization of renewable, nuclear and non-renewable energy

“…The following authors of the study [5] believe that fluctuations in oil prices lead to an increase in the popularity of energy from renewable sources and may have different effects on exporting and oil-importing countries. The third authors in their works [6,7] focus on certain aspects of energy production, for example, on utilization, and did not consider the whole process of price formation in a complex. It is also worth noting that a lot of information was taken from research and statistical data of such famous international organizations and companies as:…”