Recycling of photovoltaic panels
PDF, French. 1 document.
On behalf of the French association Waste Cooperative Research Network (RECORD, Recherche coopérative sur les déchets), Enea performed a study regarding the recycling of photovoltaic panels. The aim was to provide critical insight into the main issues surrounding the recycling of photovoltaic panels (for both crystalline and thin cells technologies), including a detailed analysis of the existing and under development recycling processes, and the development perspectives of these processes according to the evolution of regulatory frameworks and the fluctuation of the photovoltaic market.
Since the early 2000s, the general awareness surrounding the importance of recycling by both the users and producers of photovoltaic modules has contributed to the emergence of thephotovoltaic modules recycling activity. This awareness can be attributed to the growing concern on natural resource conservation; the natural shortage in some strategic metals used in photovoltaic; the reinforcement of regulatory framework on waste management in some countries; and the answer given to questions regarding the renewability of photovoltaic.
In fact, the last ten years have been marked by significant research efforts, which have finally lifted the main technological barriers associated with the recycling of photovoltaic modules.
Economically, the activity of recycling photovoltaic modules is however not yet profitable, and is instead based on sources of compensation from the clients, producers or organisations in charge of the modules collection, on top of the sale of recycled materials. Technology developers are currently cautious of investment because the waste stream is still too weak and poorly controlled, the photovoltaic market is unstable, and high competitiveness is indicative of a recycling overcapacity, which could be increasingly significant by 2020.
Following an introduction (modules composition, current and future photovoltaic market, wastes forecasts, photovoltaic modules recycling stakes and synergies with related sectors), the current regulatory framework is described, and an objective overview of the developing recycling sector is provided by analysing almost all recycling processes, its organisational segmentation and the key characteristics of relevant organisations. The synthesis of this data provides a realistic guideline on the maturity of the industry and key strategies for the development of activities within this sector.
Indeed, the success of this activity will rest partly on the ability of recycling organisations to adapt their business model and administrative system to local regulatory framework, and adapt the size of their installation to the volume of waste streams.
The influence of the revised regulation on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), strategies to develop a photovoltaic panel recycling activity or a comparison of the recycling capacities with the anticipated waste streams are included in that study.