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Remanufacturing end‐of‐life silicon photovoltaics: Feasibility and viability analysis
Author(s) -
Deng Rong,
Chang Nathan,
Lunardi Marina Monteiro,
Dias Pablo,
Bilbao Jose,
Ji Jingjia,
Chong Chee Mun
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.3376
Subject(s) - photovoltaics , remanufacturing , reuse , photovoltaic system , silicon , wafer , process engineering , crystalline silicon , manufacturing engineering , reliability engineering , automotive engineering , environmental science , engineering , waste management , solar cell , electrical engineering , materials science , metallurgy
Abstract With the rapid deployment of silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies around the world, the volume of end‐of‐life (EoL) PV modules will increase exponentially in the next decade. Different EoL management strategies are being explored in the industrial and academic fields, such as recycling, remanufacturing and reusing. In this study, we used a Monte Carlo uncertainty model to identify the potential economic benefits of closed‐loop recycling of EoL PV modules when recycled silicon is integrated into different stages of the PV supply chain. Circular use of high‐purity silicon and intact silicon wafers from EoL PV modules can be economically feasible in reducing 20% of the manufacturing cost of the second‐life modules, even with some efficiency reductions. Even though the price of new PV modules is decreasing rapidly (making PV modules less attractive from a recycling perspective), circular use of material from EoL modules in second‐life production was found to have promising long‐term environmental and economic benefits. The cost–efficiency trade‐off is shown to provide cost targets for new PV recycling technologies.