Recycling of photovoltaic panels - A review of the current trends

Máčalová, Kateřina; Václavík, Vojtěch; Dvorský, Tomáš; Svoboda, Jakub; Charvat, J.; Gola, Lukáš

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/867/1/012029

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The global cumulative capacity of PV panels reached 270 GW in 2015 and is expected to rise to 1630 GW by 2030 and 4500 GW by 2050, with projections indicating further increases over time [19]. As with any technology, solar panels eventually reach the end of their operational life and require treatment, such as recycling, dismantling, and disposal [1]. Currently, the leading countries in EoL solar panel production include China, the United States, Japan, India, and Germany.…”

Section: An Overview Of the Treatment Methods Of Discarded Photovolta...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainable Treatment of Spent Photovoltaic Solar Panels Using Plasma Pyrolysis Technology and Its Economic Significance

Chiang,

Han,

Claire

et al. 2024

Clean Technol.

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In the past few decades, the solar energy market has increased significantly, with an increasing number of photovoltaic (PV) modules being deployed around the world each year. Some believe that these PV modules have a lifespan of around 25–30 years. As their lifetime is limited, solar panels wind up in the waste stream after their end of life (EoL). Several ecological challenges are associated with their inappropriate disposal due to the presence of hazardous heavy metals (HMs). Some studies have reported different treatment technologies, including pyrolysis, stabilization, physical separation, landfill, and the use of chemicals. Each proposed treatment technique pollutes the environment and underutilizes the potential resources present in discarded solar panels (DSPs). This review recommends thermal plasma pyrolysis as a promising treatment technology. This process will have significant advantages, such as preventing toxic HMs from contaminating the soil and groundwater, reducing the amount of e-waste from DSPs in an environmentally friendly and economical way, and allows the utilization of the valuable resources contained in EoL photovoltaic solar panel modules by converting them into hydrogen-rich syngas to generate thermal energy, electricity, and non-leachable slag that can be used as an additive in other treatment processes or as a conditioner to improve soil properties. However, plasma pyrolysis uses a high temperature to break down waste materials, a challenge which can be offset by the integration of this process in anaerobic digestion (AD), as the slag from plasma pyrolysis can be used as an additive in AD treatments to produce high yields of biogas and improve nutrient recovery. Moreover, the produced energy from both processes can operate the entire plant in which they take place and increase the net energy production, a resource which can be sold for an additional income. Future challenges and recommendations are also highlighted.

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Section: An Overview Of the Treatment Methods Of Discarded Photovolta...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the early 1990s, there was much interest in the field of photovoltaic (PV) panels, hence the increase in the development and production of solar panels, whose lifespan was assumed to be around 25-30 years [1]. Nowadays, their lifetime is ending, and this results in a huge amount of solid waste from end-of-life (EoL) solar panels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Treatment of Spent Photovoltaic Solar Panels Using Plasma Pyrolysis Technology and Its Economic Significance

Chiang,

Han,

Claire

et al. 2024

Clean Technol.

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“…Separation methods are used for fluid and wet floats and electrodynamic separation. Important metals such as silver and others are obtained chemically and pyrometallurgically and can subsequently be used as raw materials in the metallurgical industry, plastics are disposed of with the possible use of heat from combustion [5].…”

Section: Current Trends In Pv Recyclingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concrete mixtures with photovoltaic panels glass: a review of the situation in Czech Republic

Mariaková,

Fořtová,

Černý

et al. 2024

APP

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Solar energy production was initiated in the 1990s following by rapid increase of the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology. Most of older solar panels in the Czech Republic were installed between 2000 and 2006 and a global installed capacity of 222 GW was reached by the end of 2015. With the growing global PV market, a large amount of waste is expected to accumulate after 2030 which is associated with the new industry to process this waste, based on reduce, reuse, and recycle. This article summarizes findings and research conclusions regarding local issues collected by experts from the Czech Republic. Previous research showed that waste glass from photovoltaic panels can be used as a pozzolanic material in high-performance concrete, improving its properties. Further research on the use of waste from photovoltaic panels has been conducted in the Czech Republic since 2019 and the conclusions from various research confirm the suitability of using PV panel glass.

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“…The recycling of solar panels at the end of their life cycle produces several components, namely 67% recycled glass, followed by aluminium 18%, plastics 11%, silicon 3% and metals 1%. [10]. Due to the high percentage of recycled glass as one of the components of recycled photovoltaic panels, our research is focused on the use of this glass.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Glass from Photovoltaic Panels at the End of Their Life Cycle in Cement Composites

et al. 2021

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This article deals with the use of photovoltaic panels at the end of their life cycle in cement composites. Attention is focused on the properties of cement composite after 100% replacement of natural aggregate with recycled glass from photovoltaic panels. This goal of replacing natural filler sources with recycled glass is based on the updated policy of the Czech Republic concerning secondary raw materials for the period of 2019–2022, which aims to increase the self-sufficiency of the Czech Republic in raw materials by replacing primary sources with secondary raw materials. The policy also promotes the use of secondary raw materials as a tool to reduce the material and energy demands of industrial production and supports the innovations and development of a circular economy within business. The research has shown that it is possible to prepare cement composite based on recycled glass from solar panels, with compressive and flexural strength after 28 days exceeding 40 MPa and 4 MPa. Furthermore, a possible modification of the cement composite with different pigments has been confirmed, without disrupting the contact zone.

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Recycling of photovoltaic panels - A review of the current trends

Cited by 8 publications

References 10 publications

Sustainable Treatment of Spent Photovoltaic Solar Panels Using Plasma Pyrolysis Technology and Its Economic Significance

Sustainable Treatment of Spent Photovoltaic Solar Panels Using Plasma Pyrolysis Technology and Its Economic Significance

Concrete mixtures with photovoltaic panels glass: a review of the situation in Czech Republic

The Use of Glass from Photovoltaic Panels at the End of Their Life Cycle in Cement Composites

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