RECYCLING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS – A REVIEW

Abstract

The growth of solar energy has been remarkable between 2013 and 2022, with a doubling of capacity from 80 GW to 197 GW. To recover valuable materials and mitigate environmental impact, it is imperative to have effective waste management practices in place. While recycling technologies are still in the experimental phase, the EU has put in place legal frameworks for manufacturer liability. There are continuous efforts being made to develop commercially viable technologies for the management of end-of-life PV module waste. An important part of the system of renewable sources is the establishment of a high-quality and efficient waste management system, which is contained within the concept of the circular economy. PV modules will at some point reach the end of their life cycle, which is estimated to be around 25 years, and become waste, therefore a lot of effort is currently being put into research and development of different waste treatment technologies of PV modules. They are still in the experimental phase, and few technologies become commercially available. Also, the management of waste generated at the end of the life cycle of photovoltaic technology is not yet fully regulated. However, at the level of the European Union, there is a legal framework for the liability of PV module manufacturers according to Directive on electric waste and electronic equipment. This paper is a detailed review of recycling technologies based on existing literature.