IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i6p2542-d1360282.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Advancements and Challenges in Photovoltaic Cell Recycling: A Comprehensive Review

Author

Listed:
  • Eva Gerold

    (Department Metallurgy, Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy, Montanuniversität Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria)

  • Helmut Antrekowitsch

    (Department Metallurgy, Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy, Montanuniversität Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria)

Abstract

This review examines the complex landscape of photovoltaic (PV) module recycling and outlines the challenges hindering widespread adoption and efficiency. Technological complexities resulting from different module compositions, different recycling processes and economic hurdles are significant barriers. Inadequate infrastructure, regulatory gaps and limited awareness are also hampering progress. In addition, this analysis draws parallels between the development of PV module recycling and recycling technologies for other high-tech products, such as lithium-ion batteries, highlighting similarities in regulatory and technical feasibility challenges. Amid these challenges, however, lie opportunities for a sustainable future. Technological advances, stakeholder collaboration and the adoption of circular economy principles emerge as key ways forward. This review highlights the need for concerted action to overcome barriers and drive the development of efficient and sustainable PV module recycling practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Gerold & Helmut Antrekowitsch, 2024. "Advancements and Challenges in Photovoltaic Cell Recycling: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2542-:d:1360282
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2542/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/6/2542/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mladen Bošnjaković & Robert Santa & Zoran Crnac & Tomislav Bošnjaković, 2023. "Environmental Impact of PV Power Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-26, August.
    2. 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.
    3. Henry J. Snaith & Peter Hacke, 2018. "Enabling reliability assessments of pre-commercial perovskite photovoltaics with lessons learned from industrial standards," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(6), pages 459-465, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Mladen Bošnjaković & Mato Galović & Jasmin Kuprešak & Tomislav Bošnjaković, 2023. "The End of Life of PV Systems: Is Europe Ready for It?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Maria A. Franco & Stefan N. Groesser, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of the Solar Photovoltaic Value Chain for a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-35, August.
    3. Lingling Hu & Junming Zhou & Feng Jiang & Guangming Xie & Jie Hu & Qinglie Mo, 2023. "Research on Optimization of Valley-Filling Charging for Vehicle Network System Based on Multi-Objective Optimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-25, December.
    4. 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.
    5. Benjamin C. McLellan & Eiji Yamasue & Tetsuo Tezuka & Glen Corder & Artem Golev & Damien Giurco, 2016. "Critical Minerals and Energy–Impacts and Limitations of Moving to Unconventional Resources," Resources, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-40, May.
    6. 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.
    7. Tran, Thuc Han & Egermann, Markus, 2022. "Land-use implications of energy transition pathways towards decarbonisation – Comparing the footprints of Vietnam, New Zealand and Finland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    8. Viebahn, Peter & Soukup, Ole & Samadi, Sascha & Teubler, Jens & Wiesen, Klaus & Ritthoff, Michael, 2015. "Assessing the need for critical minerals to shift the German energy system towards a high proportion of renewables," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 655-671.
    9. Mateo, C. & Hernández-Fenollosa, M.A. & Montero, Á. & Seguí-Chilet, S., 2018. "Analysis of initial stabilization of cell efficiency in amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules under real outdoor conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 114-125.
    10. Chen, Jinyu & Luo, Qian & Tu, Yan & Ren, Xiaohang & Naderi, Niki, 2023. "Renewable energy transition and metal consumption: Dynamic evolution analysis based on transnational data," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    11. Sprecher, Benjamin & Reemeyer, Laurie & Alonso, Elisa & Kuipers, Koen & Graedel, Thomas E., 2017. "How “black swan” disruptions impact minor metals," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 88-96.
    12. Kim Maya Yavor & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2021. "Resource Assessment of Renewable Energy Systems—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Bukhary, Saria & Ahmad, Sajjad & Batista, Jacimaria, 2018. "Analyzing land and water requirements for solar deployment in the Southwestern United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3288-3305.
    14. 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).
    15. Moreno-Sáez, Rafael & Sidrach-de-Cardona, Mariano & Mora-López, Llanos, 2016. "Analysis and characterization of photovoltaic modules of three different thin-film technologies in outdoor conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 827-838.
    16. Chen, Ze & Zhang, Xiao-dan & Fang, Jia & Liang, Jun-hui & Liang, Xue-jiao & Sun, Jian & Zhang, De-kun & Wang, Ning & Zhao, Hui-xu & Chen, Xin-liang & Huang, Qian & Wei, Chang-chun & Zhao, Ying, 2014. "Enhancement in electrical performance of thin-film silicon solar cells based on a micro- and nano-textured zinc oxide electrodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 158-164.
    17. Song, Huiling & Wang, Chang & Sun, Kun & Geng, Hongjun & Zuo, Lyushui, 2023. "Material efficiency strategies across the industrial chain to secure indium availability for global carbon neutrality," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    18. Mladen Bošnjaković & Marinko Stojkov & Marko Katinić & Ivica Lacković, 2023. "Effects of Extreme Weather Conditions on PV Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    19. Mladen Bošnjaković & Robert Santa & Zoran Crnac & Tomislav Bošnjaković, 2023. "Environmental Impact of PV Power Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-26, August.
    20. Neill Bartie & Lucero Cobos-Becerra & Magnus Fröhling & Rutger Schlatmann & Markus Reuter, 2022. "Metallurgical infrastructure and technology criticality: the link between photovoltaics, sustainability, and the metals industry," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 35(3), pages 503-519, December.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2542-:d:1360282. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.