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The dark side of the sun: solar e-waste and environmental upgrading in the off-grid solar PV value chain

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  • Ulrich Elmer Hansen
  • Ivan Nygaard
  • Mirko Dal Maso

Abstract

The expected increase in the disposal of off-grid solar e-waste (SEW) in the Global South is potentially the dark side of a promising innovation. We suggest placing research aimed at identifying appropriate schemes for the collection and recycling of SEW within a conceptual framework that builds on the literature on environmental upgrading in global value chains (GVC). We advance the GVC literature by incorporating complementary insights from social anthropology and life-cycle assessments, which will enable end-user behaviour and waste disposal to be integrated into the GVC framework. It is shown how the conceptual framework could be applied in Kenya as an example of a regional hot spot for solar e-waste. We suggest three separate research areas that would ideally be combined as a coherent and programmatic approach to ensure the provision of solid inputs informing national SEW policies and systems of regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Elmer Hansen & Ivan Nygaard & Mirko Dal Maso, 2021. "The dark side of the sun: solar e-waste and environmental upgrading in the off-grid solar PV value chain," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 58-78, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:indinn:v:28:y:2021:i:1:p:58-78
    DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2020.1753019
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    Cited by:

    1. Jamie Cross & Tom Neumark, 2021. "Solar Power and its Discontents: Critiquing Off‐grid Infrastructures of Inclusion in East Africa," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(4), pages 902-926, July.
    2. Paul G. Munro & Shanil Samarakoon & Ulrich E. Hansen & Matthew Kearnes & Anna Bruce & Jamie Cross & Sarah Walker & Collen Zalengera, 2023. "Towards a repair research agenda for off-grid solar e-waste in the Global South," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 123-128, February.
    3. Xinfang Wang & Rosie Day & Dan Murrant & Antonio Diego Marín & David Castrejón Botello & Francisco López González & Jonathan Radcliffe, 2021. "A Capabilities-Led Approach to Assessing Technological Solutions for a Rural Community," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Girardeau, Hannah & Oberholzer, Alicia & Pattanayak, Subhrendu K., 2021. "The enabling environment for household solar adoption: A systematic review," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).

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