Current trends in silicon-based photovoltaic recycling: A technology, assessment, and policy review

Abstract

Silicon-based photovoltaics (Si-PVs) are a leading renewable energy technology that has seen global acceptance. Si-based PV has resulted in notable market growth, particularly over the past several decades. Increased PV utilization and continued production increases have translated to burgeoning PV waste generation as they reach PV end-of-life. As a result, the focus on processes to treat waste PVs in anticipation of the large quantities of waste, are coming into focus. Some of the PV waste treatment methods do manage to treat the waste but fail to recover the economic value of the PV constituent materials, resulting in downcycling. On the other hand, high value recycling has been of interest because they offer options to recover as much of the materials of limited availability, promote a circular economy, offer economic value, and help strength supply chain. However, recovering these materials from PV waste involves complex operations relative to the downcycling. This review focuses on high value recycling, highlighting the different operations that are performed during each stage and the products obtained through the recycling operations. Further, life cycle assessments related to PV waste treatment are presented in this work to outline the environmental implications associated with PV waste recycling. Finally, the status of global PV waste management policies is presented with a focus on major markets and the involvement of various organizations.