Recycling c-Si PV Modules: A Review, a Proposed Energy Model and a Manufacturing Comparison

Mulazzani, Andrea; Eleftheriadis, Panagiotis; Leva, Sonia

doi:10.3390/en15228419

Cited by 27 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Nearly 80% of all photovoltaic cells can be reused. If they are in good working condition, they can be treated with acid and then fortified in such a way as to restore their solar radiation capturing properties [40,[55][56][57]. Recycling of photovoltaic panels also applies to other silicon cells that can be melted down to the so-called wafers, and then create new modules from the obtained substance.…”

Section: Literature Review Of the Analyzed Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production

et al. 2023

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The article presents the developed technology for the comprehensive recycling of depleted, used or damaged photovoltaic (PV) cells made of crystalline silicon. The developed concepts of technology and the results of research on recycling were presented on silicon photovoltaic cells and modules. The sequence of steps and the type of procedures used are proposed. A thermal delamination method for used commercial photovoltaic modules has been developed to separate the materials. In addition, a recycling line was proposed along with the selection of machines and a holistic approach to project profitability based on a SWOT analysis. The presented semi-automatic installation enables recycling on a laboratory scale. The line was designed for the assumed capacity of 30 t/h. The total energy demand for the designed line was calculated, which showed that 16.49 kWh is needed to recycle 1 ton of photovoltaic laminates. Implementation of developed solutions on an industrial scale will allow to reduce production costs, mainly thanks to energy savings, which translates into less devastation of the natural environment and reduced material consumption. In addition, the implementation of the PV module recycling system will reduce and, consequently, eliminate a significant amount of used PV devices deposited in landfills. The content of the article gives a fresh and innovative look at the essence of photovoltaic panel recycling processes in terms of production benefits as well as financial and environmental benefits.

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Section: Literature Review Of the Analyzed Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production

et al. 2023

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“…Guidelines for the environmentally acceptable reuse of solar power plant parts and materials have been proposed. The proposed model based on the entire recycling process at the EoL of a PV system was applied by Mulazzani et al [27] to analyze the energy consumption of different recycling technologies. The conclusion of their analysis was that c-Si modules can be recycled with a low energy consumption of 130-300 kWh/tons of PV module, with an estimated total recycling rate of about 84%.…”

Section: Annual Added Capacity the Global Cumulative Capacitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The End of Life of PV Systems: Is Europe Ready for It?

Bošnjaković,

Galović,

Kuprešak

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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Like other plants, every photovoltaic (PV) power plant will one day reach the end of its service life. Calculations show that 96,000 tons of PV module waste will be generated worldwide by 2030 and 86 million tons by 2050. Such large quantities of waste can endanger the environment and people if they are not disposed of properly. This paper investigated how photovoltaic waste is currently handled, how this problem is legally regulated and to what extent reuse, recycling and disposal are represented. As recycling is the best option in terms of environmental protection and a circular economy, an overview of recycling technologies and recovery rates for the materials contained in the PV system is given. Currently, there are a small number of recycling plants for PV modules in Europe, but none in the Balkan countries. The main reason for this is the small amount of PV waste in these countries, which is far below the profitability threshold for the recycling of 19,000 t/year, and even below the reduced threshold of 9000 t/year. The analysis shows that only seven EU member states will exceed this threshold by 2040, and more than half of the EU member states will not even reach this threshold by 2050. For this reason, PV modules (after dismantling the aluminum frame and cables) are mostly disposed of in landfills in these countries. This is an indication that this problem should be seriously addressed in the EU. In this context, the main obstacles to the reuse and recycling of PV modules are listed, together with guidelines for their removal.

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“…There exist several excellent review articles in the literature covering different aspects of recycling of solar panels through delamination [5,6]. These papers give a great overview of the recycling of PV modules, the energy consumption of these recycling processes, and the environmental effects of different recycling methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mulazzani et al [5] examined only c-Si solar panels, the recycling of PV modules, and the energy consumption of these recycling processes, and they did not discuss each delamination technique in detail. However, we discussed the different types of solar panels and each method in detail.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

Ghahremani,

Adams,

Norton

et al. 2024

Clean Technol.

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Solar panels are an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels; however, their useful life is limited to approximately 25 years, after which they become a waste management issue. Proper management and recycling of end-of-life (EOL) solar panels are paramount. It protects the environment because of the high energy consumption of silicon production. We can effectively decrease energy and cost requirements by recovering silicon from recycled solar panels. This is one-third of those needed for manufacturing silicon directly. Moreover, solar panels include heavy metals, such as lead, tin, and cadmium, which pose risks to human health and the environment. Empirical evidence suggests that the costs of mining materials can exceed those of recycled materials, thereby making recycling a more cost-effective means of resource harvesting. This review paper focuses on the techniques developed to delaminate solar panels, which are considered a crucial step in the recycling of EOL solar panels. Initially, various classifications of solar panels are given. Subsequently, an analysis of the diverse methods of solar panel delamination and their efficacy in the retrieval of valued materials is presented. This investigation has identified three primary modes of delamination, namely mechanical, thermal, and chemical. Among these, mechanical delamination is deemed to be a sustainable and cost-effective option when compared to thermal and chemical delamination. The current most popular method of thermal delamination is characterized by its high energy consumption and potential emission, and the chemical delamination generates hazardous liquids that pose their own threat to the environment. This study emphasizes the mechanical delamination techniques, characterized by their environmentally friendly nature, minimal ecological footprint, and capacity to retrieve entire glass panels intact. This paper also discusses the current gaps and potential enhancements for mechanical delamination techniques. For example, some delamination techniques result in crushed materials. Thus, the handling and recovery of materials such as glass and silicon cells require the implementation of an appropriate sorting technique. Also, the value obtained from recovering crushed materials is lower than that of intact glass and silicon cells.

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Recycling c-Si PV Modules: A Review, a Proposed Energy Model and a Manufacturing Comparison

Cited by 27 publications

References 66 publications

Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production

Conceptual Design of a Semi-Automatic Process Line for Recycling Photovoltaic Panels as a Way to Ecological Sustainable Production

The End of Life of PV Systems: Is Europe Ready for It?

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

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