IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/recore/v69y2012icp35-49.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Future recycling flows of tellurium from cadmium telluride photovoltaic waste

Author

Listed:
  • Marwede, Max
  • Reller, Armin

Abstract

According to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, photovoltaic energy has the potential to contribute up to 13% to the global electricity supply by 2040. A part of this electricity production will come from thin-film photovoltaic technologies. From various thin-film technologies available on the market today, low-cost cadmium telluride photovoltaics (CdTe-PV) can be considered the market leader with a market share of 5% at annual production. There are however two major concerns about this technology: first, the potential negative environmental impacts of cadmium contamination from CdTe-PV; and second, the possible shortage of the metal tellurium in the future. Because of these concerns, the recycling of production scrap and end-of-life PV modules is essential. In this paper we estimate how much tellurium will be recovered from PV scrap to substitute for primary tellurium. In order to estimate global tellurium flows until 2040, we have created a dynamic material flow model for the life-cycle of CdTe-PV modules. Three scenarios, which describe different market developments and technology trajectories, show how material efficiency measures – higher material utilization in production, decrease of material content in PV modules, and recycling of production scrap and end-of-life modules – will affect demand, waste flows, and recycling flows of semiconductor grade tellurium. The results depict that efficiency measures at process and cell level will reduce the specific tellurium demand per watt peak such that total tellurium demand starts to decline after 2020 despite further market growth. Thus, the CdTe-PV industry has the potential to fully rely on tellurium from recycled end-of-life modules by 2038. However, in order to achieve this goal, material efficiency must be substantially improved and efficient collection and recycling systems have to be built up.

Suggested Citation

  • Marwede, Max & Reller, Armin, 2012. "Future recycling flows of tellurium from cadmium telluride photovoltaic waste," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 35-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:69:y:2012:i:c:p:35-49
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.09.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344912001644
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.09.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zuser, Anton & Rechberger, Helmut, 2011. "Considerations of resource availability in technology development strategies: The case study of photovoltaics," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 56(1), pages 56-65.
    2. Fthenakis, Vasilis, 2009. "Sustainability of photovoltaics: The case for thin-film solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2746-2750, December.
    3. Fthenakis, Vasilis M., 2004. "Life cycle impact analysis of cadmium in CdTe PV production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 303-334, August.
    4. Kleijn, Rene & Huele, Ruben & van der Voet, Ester, 2000. "Dynamic substance flow analysis: the delaying mechanism of stocks, with the case of PVC in Sweden," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 241-254, February.
    5. Elshkaki, Ayman & van der Voet, Ester & Timmermans, Veerle & Van Holderbeke, Mirja, 2005. "Dynamic stock modelling: A method for the identification and estimation of future waste streams and emissions based on past production and product stock characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(8), pages 1353-1363.
    6. Feltrin, Andrea & Freundlich, Alex, 2008. "Material considerations for terawatt level deployment of photovoltaics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 180-185.
    7. Paul H. Brunner & Hwong‐Wen Ma, 2009. "Substance Flow Analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 13(1), pages 11-14, February.
    8. Bouman, Mathijs & Heijungs, Reinout & van der Voet, Ester & van den Bergh, Jeroen C. J. M. & Huppes, Gjalt, 2000. "Material flows and economic models: an analytical comparison of SFA, LCA and partial equilibrium models," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 195-216, February.
    9. Berger, Wolfgang & Simon, Franz-Georg & Weimann, Karin & Alsema, Erik A., 2010. "A novel approach for the recycling of thin film photovoltaic modules," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(10), pages 711-718.
    10. Raugei, Marco & Fthenakis, Vasilis, 2010. "Cadmium flows and emissions from CdTe PV: future expectations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 5223-5228, September.
    11. Candelise, Chiara & Speirs, Jamie F. & Gross, Robert J.K., 2011. "Materials availability for thin film (TF) PV technologies development: A real concern?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4972-4981.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Rao Fu & Kun Peng & Peng Wang & Honglin Zhong & Bin Chen & Pengfei Zhang & Yiyi Zhang & Dongyang Chen & Xi Liu & Kuishuang Feng & Jiashuo Li, 2023. "Tracing metal footprints via global renewable power value chains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Wu, Tian & Zhou, Wei & Yan, Xiaoyu & Ou, Xunmin, 2016. "Optimal policy design for photovoltaic power industry with positive externality in China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 22-30.
    3. Domínguez, Adriana & Geyer, Roland, 2017. "Photovoltaic waste assessment in Mexico," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 29-41.
    4. McNulty, Brian A. & Jowitt, Simon M., 2022. "Byproduct critical metal supply and demand and implications for the energy transition: A case study of tellurium supply and CdTe PV demand," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ravikumar, Dwarakanath & Malghan, Deepak, 2013. "Material constraints for indigenous production of CdTe PV: Evidence from a Monte Carlo experiment using India's National Solar Mission Benchmarks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 393-403.
    2. Elshkaki, Ayman & Graedel, T.E., 2015. "Solar cell metals and their hosts: A tale of oversupply and undersupply," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 167-177.
    3. Asim, Nilofar & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman & Ahmadi, Shideh & Saeedfar, Kasra & Alghoul, M.A. & Saadatian, Omidreza & Zaidi, Saleem H., 2012. "A review on the role of materials science in solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5834-5847.
    4. Kavlak, Goksin & Graedel, T.E., 2013. "Global anthropogenic tellurium cycles for 1940–2010," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 21-26.
    5. Marwede, Max & Berger, Wolfgang & Schlummer, Martin & Mäurer, Andreas & Reller, Armin, 2013. "Recycling paths for thin-film chalcogenide photovoltaic waste – Current feasible processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 220-229.
    6. Leena Grandell & Mikael Höök, 2015. "Assessing Rare Metal Availability Challenges for Solar Energy Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-20, August.
    7. Nassar, Nedal T. & Wilburn, David R. & Goonan, Thomas G., 2016. "Byproduct metal requirements for U.S. wind and solar photovoltaic electricity generation up to the year 2040 under various Clean Power Plan scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1209-1226.
    8. Songi Kim & Bongju Jeong, 2016. "Closed-Loop Supply Chain Planning Model for a Photovoltaic System Manufacturer with Internal and External Recycling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, June.
    9. Goe, Michele & Gaustad, Gabrielle, 2014. "Identifying critical materials for photovoltaics in the US: A multi-metric approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 387-396.
    10. Choi, Chul Hun & Cao, Jinjian & Zhao, Fu, 2016. "System Dynamics Modeling of Indium Material Flows under Wide Deployment of Clean Energy Technologies," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 59-71.
    11. Stamp, Anna & Wäger, Patrick A. & Hellweg, Stefanie, 2014. "Linking energy scenarios with metal demand modeling–The case of indium in CIGS solar cells," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 156-167.
    12. Fthenakis, Vasilis & Athias, Clement & Blumenthal, Alyssa & Kulur, Aylin & Magliozzo, Julia & Ng, David, 2020. "Sustainability evaluation of CdTe PV: An update," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    13. Davidsson, Simon & Höök, Mikael, 2017. "Material requirements and availability for multi-terawatt deployment of photovoltaics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 574-582.
    14. Bustamante, Michele L. & Gaustad, Gabrielle, 2014. "Challenges in assessment of clean energy supply-chains based on byproduct minerals: A case study of tellurium use in thin film photovoltaics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 397-414.
    15. Raugei, Marco & Fthenakis, Vasilis, 2010. "Cadmium flows and emissions from CdTe PV: future expectations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 5223-5228, September.
    16. Tsiliyannis, Christos Aristeides, 2015. "Sustainability by cyclic manufacturing: Assessment of resource preservation under uncertain growth and returns," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 155-170.
    17. Liang, Yanan & Kleijn, René & Tukker, Arnold & van der Voet, Ester, 2022. "Material requirements for low-carbon energy technologies: A quantitative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    18. Michael Redlinger & Roderick Eggert & Michael Woodhouse, 2014. "Evaluating the Availability of Gallium, Indium, and Tellurium from Recycled Photovoltaic Modules," Working Papers 2014-09, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    19. Lloyd, Bob & Forest, Andrew S., 2010. "The transition to renewables: Can PV provide an answer to the peak oil and climate change challenges?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7378-7394, November.
    20. Candelise, Chiara & Speirs, Jamie F. & Gross, Robert J.K., 2011. "Materials availability for thin film (TF) PV technologies development: A real concern?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4972-4981.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:69:y:2012:i:c:p:35-49. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Kai Meng (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/resources-conservation-and-recycling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.