Energy decarbonisation in the European Union: Assessment of photovoltaic waste recycling potential

Abstract

The Renewable Energy Directive delineates policies for energy production from renewable sources by at least 32% in European Union (EU) by 2030. All member states have established National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) for 2021–2030 to decipher how they will cover their energy needs from renewable sources. This work considers the targets set by each of the EU-27 countries to implement, in particular, solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to cover their energy needs. Then, the future PV waste amounts are assessed considering the widely used Early Loss and Regular Loss scenarios, as well as the noteworthy scenario proposed by the EU WEEE Directive. The study addresses the questions “when will large amounts of panel waste be generated in the EU countries and what will their composition be?” Also, a timescale for starting an economically viable recycling industry for PV panel waste in the EU is estimated based on the annual PV waste generated in each country. By 2050, 14.3–18.5 Mt PV waste will be generated in EU-27 while the profit of PV recovered materials will be 21.98–27.36 billion USD. The findings contribute to the efficient management of the forthcoming e-waste category, according to circular economy principles, ensuring the pathway to sustainability.