Collection and reuse-recycling practices for PV panels in the Greater Region

Abstract

The PV industry has grown at a fast pace and has been contributing to the shift towards renewable energy, but at the same time, it has posed a new end-of-life management problem. This study focuses on the end-of-life management of photovoltaic panels in the Greater Region (Wallonia, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Lorraine, Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz). The study estimated future PV waste volumes and existing collection systems, identified recycling organisations and technologies, the technical and economic viability of regional recycling infrastructure, and cross-border material flows. The design was a mixed-method regional casestudy, employing both quantitative forecasting and comparative analysis as well as qualitative documentary analysis. Academic research, European and national regulatory information, energy data, collection organisations and information from the recycling sector were analysed to evaluate PV deployment, waste generation, collection schemes, recycling channels and material flows. The results show that the amount of PV waste is currently rather small and will grow significantly when existing PV systems reach their end-of-life. Collection systems are in place but are mostly organised nationally, and there is some uneven distribution of specialised recycling capacity. Mechanical recycling is an important high throughput process and integrated mechanical, thermal and chemical processes can improve material recovery. A regional recycling facility is technically viable, but economic viability is dependent on the availability of adequate feedstock, efficient transport, facility utilization, material revenues, and coordinated EPR systems. Therefore, better coordination and infrastructure planning across the borders are needed for the implementation of a circular PV waste-management system.