Search Results (105)

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, particularly hailstorms, driven by climate change, poses growing threats to the resilience, environmental sustainability, and long-term performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of a 12 kWp rooftop PV installation in Brescia, northern Italy, through a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of three system configurations: a standard unprotected system (Scenario A), one equipped with a retractable polycarbonate hail-protection panel with automated weather-sensor activation (Scenario B), and one using thicker reinforced front-glass modules (Scenario C). The analysis follows a cradle-to-gate plus operational maintenance phase (30-year horizon, excluding end-of-life) system boundary and employs the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) methodology across 18 environmental impact categories. A novel integration of the Social Discount Rate (SDR) to the LCA framework—constituting a Discounted LCA (D-LCA)—incorporates both temporal discounting and risk dimensions into the environmental evaluation. A structured PESTEL-based risk taxonomy is applied to derive scenario-specific SDRs, with the Environmental risk category as the key differentiator between configurations. The static LCA identifies Scenario A as the lowest-impact option, while the D-LCA framework reverses this ranking: Scenario C achieves the highest Net Present Value of Emissions, followed by Scenario A. A negative NPV-E for Scenario B reflects the temporal cost of a large, front-loaded construction debt rather than absolute environmental harm. D-LCA framework should be interpreted as a complement to the full 18-category static LCIA profile, not a replacement. These results demonstrate that risk-informed D-LCA provides a more policy-relevant environmental sustainability assessment than static LCA for long-lived energy infrastructure subject to climate-driven operational risks. Full article

The exponential increase in photovoltaic panel (PV) waste highlights the urgent need to develop efficient and sustainable recycling processes. It is estimated that by 2030, 8 million tons of PV modules will reach their end-of-life stage, posing a significant environmental challenge and requiring the development of green technologies for resource recovery. This study assessed the performance of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as “designer solvents” for the selective leaching of copper and silver from disused PV panels. Specifically, four quaternary imidazolium salts were evaluated: [Bmim]HSO₄, [Emim]HSO₄, [Bmim]Cl, and [Emim]Cl. Leaching tests were conducted on silicon wafers containing 0.28% Ag and 0.19% Cu under varying temperatures (25, 50, and 80 °C), IL concentrations (20% and 60% v/v), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) dosages (0% and 3% v/v) as an oxidizing agent. The results identified [Bmim]HSO₄ as the most effective leaching agent. The system achieved a maximum copper extraction of 96.70% at 60% v/v concentration and 80 °C. For silver, the highest extraction of 45.13% was obtained using [Bmim]HSO₄ at 20% v/v and 80 °C. The addition of H₂O₂ was crucial, demonstrating a clear synergistic effect with the imidazolium-based ILs by promoting oxidative dissolution. These findings confirm that imidazolium-based ionic liquids represent a promising and environmentally friendly alternative for the recovery of high-value metals in the circular economy of photovoltaic recycling. Full article

The rapid expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment has led to increasing concerns regarding end-of-life module management and the sustainability of material supply chains, where waste volumes are projected to reach 3.3–5.6 million tons by 2045. This study evaluates the environmental and economic impact of advanced photovoltaic recycling in Germany, focusing on high-value material recovery from crystalline silicon modules. A Full Recovery of End-of-Life Photovoltaics (FRELP) pathway is developed, integrating light-pulse delamination and molten salt etching, and a comparative life cycle assessment and economic assessment framework is applied. The results indicate that advanced recycling achieves high recovery rates for silicon, silver, aluminum, copper and low-iron glass, yielding around €1174.88 per ton of panels recycled. Economic analysis shows that manufacturing PV modules from recycled materials reduces costs by approximately 60–77% compared to virgin material production, mainly due to avoided energy-intensive upstream processes. From an environmental perspective, the recycling-based pathway yields net benefits across impact categories, as avoided impacts from primary material extraction outweigh additional burdens associated with recycling. Overall, PV recycling in Europe is shown to be environmentally and economically favorable; however, technological maturity and policy constraints remain key barriers to large-scale implementation and a holistic overall recycling process, indicating the need for targeted policy support. Full article

The rapid growth of photovoltaic panels installations has led to a dramatic increase in the end-of-life (EoL) panels, creating an urgent need for efficient recycling strategies. In the present study, a pretreatment system consisting of hydrochloric acid was developed to remove impurity metals such as aluminum and iron from EoL PV panel powder prior to the precious metals leaching step. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the effects of main operational parameters, i.e., HCl concentration, leaching time, and solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio on the dissolution of Al, Fe, Pb, Sn, and Cu. Thermodynamic analysis with the help of HSC Chemistry^® 10 software, confirmed the feasibility of dissolution of the Al, Fe, Pb, Sn, and Cu in chloride media. Experimental results demonstrated that the dissolution rate of Al and Fe under optimal conditions were 86.05 and 91.77 percent, respectively. In all of the tests, copper dissolution remained negligible (<4%), and no silver was detected which confirms the selectivity of the pretreatment. The optimized conditions (1.5 M HCl, 198 min, 20% S/L) enabled effective impurity removal while preserving silver in the solid residue. This study highlights the importance of selective pretreatment in enhancing downstream silver recovery and provides a practical approach for the hydrometallurgical recycling of end-of-life PV waste. Full article

As declared in the European Green Deal, the decarbonization of the EU energy system is essential for achieving Europe’s climate neutrality targets, demanding a substantial expansion of renewable energy sources and the rapid phase-out of coal and gas. It is therefore essential that newly installed PV products within the EU are designed to avoid creating additional environmental burdens due to environmental impacts during production and at the end of life (EOL) of photovoltaic (PV) modules. This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of sustainable/green PV module designs in terms of recyclability using advanced high-quality recycling technologies. It compares two product systems both based on mono c-Si PV technology and the glass–glass (G–G) module design: 1. Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) and 2. Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) cell technologies, which are assessed under production scenarios in China and Germany, and two recycling scenarios (hypothetical high-recovery recycling and partial recycling) using inventory data from eco-invent and literature sources. The results across most impact categories show that the PERC and TOPCon module designs produced in Germany with high-recovery recycling as the end-of-life strategy exhibit lower impacts than those produced in China with partial recycling as the end-of-life strategy under the adopted assumptions such as electricity mix and end-of-life modelling choices for module-only impacts (excluding BOS components). The climate change results show that TOPCon cell design under high-recovery recycling yields 10.4% lower emissions than the PERC cell design under partial recycling in Germany and 9.7% lower in China. However, both module designs emit 26.6% and 27.2% less GHG emissions when produced in Germany compared to production in China, respectively, which is line with earlier studies. With the exception of human toxicity, both PERC and TOPCon cell technologies perform better in this study than previously reported in reviewed LCA studies, reflecting the use of more recent state-of-the-art industry data concerning manufacturing requirements. The sensitivity analysis carried out on the design changes and electricity grid mix available shows that any improvements in the design process and increases in renewable energy penetration into the grid corresponds to a proportional reduction in environmental impacts across all impact categories. Full article

Ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) plants generate discrete end-of-life waste streams during repowering/revamping, yet damaged modules do not always leave the site. We document two field-verified case studies from Czechia, in which damaged PV modules remained stored outdoors on agricultural land after repowering/revamping. The two sites are treated as illustrative, field-verified cases rather than as a statistically representative sample of PV plants in Czechia or Europe. The sites were first identified during field visits in summer 2025, and a retrospective review of public CUZK orthophoto time series was then used to reconstruct when the stockpiles first became visible and whether they were still present in the latest available imagery. The stored module piles first became visible in 2022 and 2021 at the two sites, and were still present in summer 2025, corresponding to a minimum confirmed persistence of about 3 and 4 years, respectively. Orthophoto-based GIS supported by field photographs was used to quantify the land parcel area (19,560 and 22,100 m²), PV plan-view area (4960 and 5080 m²), storage footprint (109 and 100 m²), approximate stored module count (~1800 and ~2000), and stored mass (39.6 and 36.0 t). Using site-specific module footprints and a representative 30-module stack, the local stack-based pressures were calculated to be 3.92 and 3.26 kPa, respectively. Soil chemistry, leachate, and groundwater were not measured; therefore, the environmental implications should be interpreted as precautionary risk and as a need for monitoring, not as measured contamination at the two sites. The study shows that repowering/revamping can create a multi-year gap between module replacement and actual site clearance, during which recycling and final disposal are effectively delayed. Full article

To mitigate the effects of climate change, the world must significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The nuclear power and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, water, waste, and geothermal energy, emit minimal to no greenhouse gases or pollutants during operation. These sources are considered crucial for combating climate change and supporting sustainable development. However, the production of electricity, like most industries, generates waste. Comparisons show clear differences: fossil fuel plants produce the largest total waste mass (primarily combustion ash, flue gas desulfurization residues, and wastewater sludge), while nuclear facilities generate a minimal volume but high-activity spent fuel and long-lived radioactive materials. Solar PV systems generate significant end-of-life electronic waste and glass encapsulant, and wind turbines yield moderate composite blade residues. Hydropower sediment management and geothermal scaling contribute unique waste streams of local concern. Regardless of the energy source, responsible waste management is critical to minimize environmental impacts. This article explores the sustainability of low-carbon energy sources, specifically focusing on waste management with the aim of highlighting the need of implementing targeted strategies such as advanced recycling and material substitution in order to minimize environmental impacts and enhance the circularity of low-carbon energy systems. Full article

Repurposing shipping containers to construct modular buildings is an emerging trend that contributes to a more sustainable building sector. In the tourism sector, they enable low-impact, relocatable accommodation adaptable to diverse environments, reducing their ecological footprint. The feasibility of using this kind of structure for self-sufficient tourist accommodation has not yet been thoroughly explored. This work focuses on the case study of the Versatile Cabin, a modular building made from end-of-life shipping containers. It provides a comprehensive analysis of its thermal performance and the capability of maintaining comfortable indoor conditions without relying on the electricity grid. Using TRNSYS, the thermal demands of the dwelling are evaluated across 45 different Spanish locations, taking into account the climatic diversity of the country. Additionally, the study explores the integration of a photovoltaic system to supply power for the HVAC equipment, revealing potential for self-sufficiency, particularly in southern locations with lower heating demand. The results indicate that the PV system can meet between 88.5% and 99.9% of the dwelling’s electricity needs, with an average of 96.1%. Overall, the findings offer valuable insights into the thermal performance and self-sufficiency of modular buildings within the tourism sector, aligning with sustainable building practices and sustainable development goals. Full article

With the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry, the issue of high-value conversion and utilization of end-of-life photovoltaic modules emerges. This study proposes using them in silicon-air batteries and designs a one-step pretreatment process to obtain two types of anode materials: AB@Si and TC@Si. Additionally, to enhance the electrochemical performance of retired crystalline silicon from PV modules as anodes for silicon-air batteries and improve their mass conversion efficiency, this study introduces Triton X-100 into the KOH electrolyte to inhibit chemical corrosion of the anodes and investigates the mechanism of action of Triton X-100. The results indicate that the surfaces of AB@Si and TC@Si exhibit a pyramidal structure, demonstrating excellent passivation resistance when used in silicon-air batteries, with maximum mass conversion efficiencies of 3.5% and 1.83%, respectively. Under the influence of Triton X-100, the maximum mass conversion efficiencies reach 6.39% and 3.09%, respectively. Polarization curves and mass loss under non-current conditions indicate that Triton X-100 primarily affects the chemical corrosion process of the silicon anode, while its impact on electrochemical corrosion is negligible. Results from contact angle measurements and adsorption energy calculations indicate that Triton X-100 adsorbs onto the silicon surface via benzene ring groups or OH groups, reducing hydrophilicity and delaying the self-corrosion process of silicon, thereby improving the battery′s discharge lifespan and mass conversion efficiency. Full article

Recycling end-of-life (EoL) photovoltaic (PV) modules is essential for resource recovery and pollution mitigation, yet weak incentives and non-standardized treatment continue to hinder the development of formal recycling systems. This paper develops a tripartite evolutionary game model involving the government, PV power generators, and third-party recyclers under a reward–penalty policy mechanism. Replicator dynamic equations, Jacobian stability analysis, and MATLAB R2023b (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA) simulations are used to examine strategic interactions and evolutionary paths. The results show that: (1) under the baseline parameter setting, the system converges to a unique evolutionary stable strategy, (0, 1, 1), namely no government regulation, generator recycling, and recycler green technology innovation; (2) variations in initial strategy probabilities affect convergence speed but do not change the final equilibrium; (3) under the same total reward expenditure, increasing rewards to generators drives the system toward the desirable equilibrium faster than allocating the same amount mainly to recyclers; and (4) penalty policies also promote compliance, but their marginal effect is weaker than that of reward-based incentives. These findings suggest that appropriately designed incentives can accelerate generator recycling and recycler green innovation, while the government’s role may gradually shift from direct intervention to supervision and coordination. Full article

The rapid expansion of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules has increased the demand for sustainable and high-value recycling strategies for end-of-life (EOL) modules. A significant challenge is the removal of impurities such as carbon, oxygen, and non-metallic inclusions introduced into silicon solar cells during the dissociation of PV laminates. To address this, we propose a non-consumable electrode electroslag remelting (NCE-ESR) process to effectively eliminate inclusions. In this process, the reverse flow of alloy droplets and the extensive contact area are crucial during the reverse flow slag washing. Initially, we studied the occurrence characteristics of inclusions in silicon solar cells obtained after pyrolysis from enterprises. Pyrolysis facilitated the formation of inclusions like Si-O, C-O, Al-O, and Si-N, particularly in the fine size range below 5 μm. To enhance impurity removal, the recycled Si was alloyed with Cu, which increased the melt density and impurity activity. Based on optimized thermodynamics and physical properties, we designed a novel electroslag composition of 40%CaO-40%SiO₂-20%CaF₂ suitable for silicon alloy refining. Notably, during the reverse flow slag washing of the Cu-Si alloy, the maximum removal rate of inclusions reached 77.42%. The average diameter of inclusions was reduced to below 6 μm, and the removal rates of impurity elements such as Al, O, and C exceeded 98.09%, 94.86%, and 86.08%, respectively. Finally, we independently developed the NCE-ESR equipment and conducted a kilogram-scale amplification test. The results indicated that the impurity removal rates of Al and O exceeded 97%, and the final inclusion size was less than 10 μm. This study demonstrates a scalable and environmentally friendly approach for the high-value recycling of silicon resources from decommissioned PV modules. Full article

This review examines an environmental LCA of solar modules and cell technologies across 18 environmental indicators to assess the performance of current solar module types. It provides a more comprehensive analysis by including studies that account for recycling credits in end-of-life PV waste management. The literature search covered seven databases up to 20 November 2025, resulting in the selection of 43 papers focused on solar modules, LCA, and recycling for data extraction. The methodological quality and risk of bias of included studies were evaluated based on compliance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 requirements. Due to the diversity of methodologies, functional units, and system boundaries across studies, it is observed that there is a wide range of emission values for the various solar PV technologies, with some studies reporting very high or very low figures. Considering one of the main impact categories, GHG emissions of key PV technologies, including mono c-Si, multi c-Si, CdTe, and PERC modules, for the study period 2015–2025 have been reported in the ranges of 493–2760, 640–2418, 312–2140, and 425–1759 kg CO₂-eq/kW_p. It can be generally expected that when assessed under comparable LCA frameworks, emerging solar cells are more likely to exhibit lower emissions than conventional silicon-based solar cells across most indicators. Moreover, results from recent studies show an environmental improvement for the various module and cell types, largely due to advancements in material efficiency during the optimized manufacturing process. A major limitation of this study is the omission of service lifetime considerations, as most sustainability assessments are ideally based on lifetime energy generation (kWh). However, given the assumption of comparable lifetimes among the assessed module types, the use of kW_p-based emissions remains suitable for relative comparisons, although possible differences in long-term performance may not be fully captured. Full article

This review paper presents a system-level engineering design perspective on end-of-life (EoL) photovoltaic (PV) recycling, addressing a critical gap in the literature that is predominantly focused on material and process-level analyses. A unified framework is developed to evaluate mechanical, thermal, chemical, and emerging laser-based technologies through the lenses of system architecture, process control, and infrastructure integration. The study introduces design-oriented concepts, including optimal processing windows, modular system configurations, and multi-layer control frameworks, to support decision-making in scalable PV recycling systems. Particular emphasis is placed on laser-based recycling (e.g., femtosecond laser technology), which enables non-thermal, high-precision, and interface-selective material separation, representing a paradigm shift towards intelligent and adaptive recycling infrastructures. The paper also highlights the transition from conventional bulk PV processing to precision-controlled, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems, and outlines future research and industrial pathways required to realize sustainable, high-efficiency PV recycling within a circular economy. Full article

Stationary energy storage (SES) is increasingly needed to integrate variable renewable generation and improve consumer self-consumption, but technology choices involve associated trade-offs between cost, efficiency, and life-cycle impacts. This study evaluates the role of second-life lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries repurposed from electric vehicles for stationary applications, compared to lead-acid (Pb-acid) batteries and power-to-hydrogen-to-power (PtH₂P) systems. We develop an optimization-based sizing and dispatch framework using measured PV–load profiles and hourly market electricity prices, and evaluate performance per 1 MWh delivered to the load over a 10-year life cycle. Economic performance is quantified through discounted cash flows equal to levelized cost of storage (LCOS), while environmental performance is assessed through life-cycle metrics with explicit representation of recycling and second-life credits. In addition to global warming potential (GWP), the analysis considers additional resource and impact metrics, as well as key operational efficiency metrics, including bidirectional consumption efficiency, autonomy, and share of self-consumption/export of photovoltaic systems. Scenario and sensitivity analyses examine the impact of policy and financial parameters, in particular feed-in tariff remuneration and discount rate, on the comparative ranking of technologies. The results highlight how circular economy pathways, especially second-life distribution for Li-ion batteries and high end-of-life recovery for lead-acid batteries, have a significant impact on the life-cycle burden for delivered energy, while market-driven conditions for dispatching and export activities shape economic outcomes. Overall, the proposed workflow provides a transparent, circularity-aware basis for selecting stationary storage technologies associated with photovoltaic systems, under realistic operational constraints. Full article

The industrial dismantling and recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules require robust visual inspection under dust contamination, inter-class similarity, and constrained edge-computing conditions. This study proposes an end-to-end framework that detects key module components (junction box, backsheet label, aluminum frame, and shadow region) and estimates the aluminum frame gap height for dismantling control. The primary novelty is a dust erosion-aware detection and metrology framework that couples frequency-enhanced visual perception with shadow-guided geometric measurement, while lightweight deployment modules serve as supporting engineering components. Specifically, DWT/FFT-based enhancement with CLAHE is used to improve degraded features, and YOLOv8 is strengthened by GSConv and Coordinate Attention in the backbone and neck; transfer learning, INT8 quantization-aware training, and CMFH-based compact rechecking are further introduced for practical deployment. Experiments show that the proposed method improves mAP@0.5 by 5.08 percentage points over baseline YOLOv8 while increasing speed from 45 to 52 FPS. For geometric metrology, the method achieves 93.0% accuracy with a mean error of 0.45 mm. The results demonstrate an accurate, robust, and edge-deployable solution for the automated inspection and recycling of end-of-life PV modules under dusty conditions. Full article