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Life cycle assessment of polysilicon photovoltaic modules with green recycling based on the ReCiPe method

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  • Duan, Yuxiu
  • Guo, Feihong
  • Gardy, Jabbar
  • Xu, Guijun
  • Li, Xinjun
  • Jiang, Xiaoxiang

Abstract

Polysilicon photovoltaic (PV) modules are about to enter the end-of-life (EOL) stage on a large scale, and making the exploration of effective recycling methods and comprehensive evaluations their environmental impact through life cycle assessment (LCA) are key issues that need to be urgently tackled. In this study, we innovatively propose a recycling method utilising the green organic solvents 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) and deep eutectic solvent (DES). Additionally, an LCA of 1 m2 polysilicon PV modules - from industrial silicon production to waste recycling - was conducted using the ReCiPe 2016 method. The results indicate that the recycling process of polysilicon has the lowest environmental impact (1.02 Pt), whilst the production process has the highest environmental impact (4.22 Pt), leading to greater uncertainty. Sensitivity analyses showed that the sensitivity of the whole process was higher for electricity consumption and global warming (GW). Comparing the green organic solvent recycling to downcycling and landfill further demonstrates that environmental impact can be significantly reduced by employing this green organic solvent recycling approach, providing an important theoretical and practical pathway to promote the circular economy and sustainable development of the PV industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Duan, Yuxiu & Guo, Feihong & Gardy, Jabbar & Xu, Guijun & Li, Xinjun & Jiang, Xiaoxiang, 2024. "Life cycle assessment of polysilicon photovoltaic modules with green recycling based on the ReCiPe method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124014757
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Farrell, C.C. & Osman, A.I. & Doherty, R. & Saad, M. & Zhang, X. & Murphy, A. & Harrison, J. & Vennard, A.S.M. & Kumaravel, V. & Al-Muhtaseb, A.H. & Rooney, D.W., 2020. "Technical challenges and opportunities in realising a circular economy for waste photovoltaic modules," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Haicheng Jia & Ling Liang & Jiqing Xie & Jianyun Zhang, 2022. "Environmental Effects of Technological Improvements in Polysilicon Photovoltaic Systems in China—A Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
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    2. María José Guijarro-Gil & Manuel Botejara-Antúnez & Antonio Díaz-Parralejo & Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo, 2025. "Selection of Sol-Gel Coatings by the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Life Cycle Assessment for Concentrated Solar Power Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-20, March.

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