@article{1db2ae2f8e7b4baeb1e825fef96af9f0,
title = "Technical challenges and opportunities in realising a circular economy for waste photovoltaic modules",
abstract = "The global exponential increase in annual photovoltaic (PV) installations and the resultant levels of PV waste is an increasing concern. It is estimated by 2050 there will be between 60 and 78 million tonnes of PV waste in circulation. This review will investigate and establish the most efficient routes to recycle end-of-life modules. It will consider current design constraints, focusing on the maximum recovery of constituents from the module, reporting on some of the latest advancements in recycling methodology at both industrial and laboratory scale. Circular challenges, opportunities, models and arguments are presented for critical analysis of closed-loop recycling alongside alternative open-loop cascading options. Adopting circular economy principles will help offset environmental factors such as emissions associated with the manufacturing stages and increase recycling & recovery rates. First-generation crystalline silicon (c-Si) modules have had an 80–90% market share over the last 40 years and will constitute the majority of the impending PV waste stream. These PV modules are composed of several material types such as glass, metal, semiconductor and polymer layers in a strongly bound laminate. This design makes reusing and maintaining these modules difficult and limits potential recycling options. Here we provide guidance for understanding the c-Si PV module manufacturing process and how to best approach the challenge of recycling this vast and inevitable waste stream. In conclusion, pyrolysis offers the best potential for the optimum recovery of material and energy found in first-generation c-Si modules to help promote a truly circular economy within the well-established PV industry.",
keywords = "Circular economy, End-of-life management, PV module Recycling, Pyrolysis, Sustainable development, WEEE",
author = "Farrell, {C. C.} and Osman, {A. I.} and R. Doherty and M. Saad and X. Zhang and A. Murphy and J. Harrison and Vennard, {A. S.M.} and V. Kumaravel and Al-Muhtaseb, {A. H.} and Rooney, {D. W.}",
note = "Funding Information: CF and AO wish to acknowledge the support of South West College, all of the Renewable Engine project partners and the support given by the EPSRC project “Advancing Creative Circular Economies for Plastics via Technological-Social Transitions” (ACCEPT Transitions, EP/S025545/1). Additionally, the authors would like to acknowledge the inclusion of images from previous work. Fig. 2 reprinted with permission from A. Kumar et al. “E-waste: An overview on generation, collection, legislation and recycling practices”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 122, 32–42, Elsevier, 2017. Fig. 3 reprinted with permission from M. Zentgraf et al. “{\textcopyright}Fraunhofer ISE: Photovoltaics Report, updated: March 14, 2019”. Fig. 9 assets were used with permission from M. Ike et al. “The process of selecting and prioritising corporate sustainability issues: Insights for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 236, Elsevier, 2019. This work is funded by the Renewable Engine project (Project ID IVA5033) which was awarded by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), with match funding provided by the Department for the Economy and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in Ireland. CF would like to acknowledge Mr. Chris McQueen from the Innotech centre in South West College for assistance and guidance with Adobe Illustrator in the production of the figures included in this manuscript. The authors would like to thank Patrick Mc Nicholl, Barbara Farrell and Brian-Pat O'Neill who assisted in the proofreading of the manuscript. Funding Information: CF and AO wish to acknowledge the support of South West College, all of the Renewable Engine project partners and the support given by the EPSRC project “Advancing Creative Circular Economies for Plastics via Technological-Social Transitions” (ACCEPT Transitions, EP/S025545/1). Additionally, the authors would like to acknowledge the inclusion of images from previous work. Fig. 2 reprinted with permission from A. Kumar et al., “E-waste: An overview on generation, collection, legislation and recycling practices”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 122, 32–42, Elsevier, 2017. Fig. 3 reprinted with permission from M. Zentgraf et al., “{\textcopyright}Fraunhofer ISE: Photovoltaics Report, updated: March 14, 2019”. Fig. 9 assets were used with permission from M. Ike et al., “The process of selecting and prioritising corporate sustainability issues: Insights for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 236, Elsevier, 2019. This work is funded by the Renewable Engine project (Project ID IVA5033 ) which was awarded by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), with match funding provided by the Department for the Economy and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in Ireland. CF would like to acknowledge Mr. Chris McQueen from the Innotech centre in South West College for assistance and guidance with Adobe Illustrator in the production of the figures included in this manuscript. The authors would like to thank Patrick Mc Nicholl, Barbara Farrell and Brian-Pat O'Neill who assisted in the proofreading of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Authors",
year = "2020",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1016/j.rser.2020.109911",
language = "English",
volume = "128",
journal = "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews",
issn = "1364-0321",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
}