A Circularity Assessment for Silicon Solar Panels Based on Dynamic Material Flow Analysis

Sherif Khalifa; Benjamin Mastrorocco; Dylan Au; Teresa Barnes; Alberta Carpenter; Jason Baxter

doi:10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117

A Circularity Assessment for Silicon Solar Panels Based on Dynamic Material Flow Analysis

Sherif Khalifa, Benjamin Mastrorocco, Dylan Au, Teresa Barnes, Alberta Carpenter, Jason Baxter

Drexel University

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

1 Scopus Citations

Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of design, operational, and end-of-life (EOL) waste pathways' parameters on material circularity in silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Dynamic material flow analysis (DMFA) quantifies time-series material flows through systems' life cycle stages to identify hotspots of waste generation, estimate resource needs in the future, and guide sustainable material management. We introduce a DMFA framework based on U.S. electricity demand for the period 2000-2100 to assess stocks and flows of bulk PV materials (i.e., solar glass and aluminum frames). We apply the model to a range of scenarios to understand how material demands depend on selected PV-related parameters, different material circularity strategies, and recent module design trends (e.g., bifacials, large-format-high power modules). Our results enable advanced planning for future materials needs and provide insight into potential opportunities to minimize material waste.

Original language	American English
Pages	560-563
Number of pages	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117 https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117
State	Published - 2021
Event	48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021 - Fort Lauderdale, United States Duration: 20 Jun 2021 → 25 Jun 2021

Conference

Conference	48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021
Country/Territory	United States
City	Fort Lauderdale
Period	20/06/21 → 25/06/21

Bibliographical note

See NREL/CP-6A20-80275 for preprint

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-6A20-81157

Keywords

Circular economy
crystalline silicon photovoltaics
dynamic material flow analysis
waste management

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Khalifa, S., Mastrorocco, B., Au, D., Barnes, T., Carpenter, A., & Baxter, J. (2021). A Circularity Assessment for Silicon Solar Panels Based on Dynamic Material Flow Analysis. 560-563. Paper presented at 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021, Fort Lauderdale, United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117, https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117

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abstract = "This paper examines the impacts of design, operational, and end-of-life (EOL) waste pathways' parameters on material circularity in silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Dynamic material flow analysis (DMFA) quantifies time-series material flows through systems' life cycle stages to identify hotspots of waste generation, estimate resource needs in the future, and guide sustainable material management. We introduce a DMFA framework based on U.S. electricity demand for the period 2000-2100 to assess stocks and flows of bulk PV materials (i.e., solar glass and aluminum frames). We apply the model to a range of scenarios to understand how material demands depend on selected PV-related parameters, different material circularity strategies, and recent module design trends (e.g., bifacials, large-format-high power modules). Our results enable advanced planning for future materials needs and provide insight into potential opportunities to minimize material waste.",

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author = "Sherif Khalifa and Benjamin Mastrorocco and Dylan Au and Teresa Barnes and Alberta Carpenter and Jason Baxter",

note = "See NREL/CP-6A20-80275 for preprint; 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021 ; Conference date: 20-06-2021 Through 25-06-2021",

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Khalifa, S, Mastrorocco, B, Au, D, Barnes, T , Carpenter, A & Baxter, J 2021, 'A Circularity Assessment for Silicon Solar Panels Based on Dynamic Material Flow Analysis', Paper presented at 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021, Fort Lauderdale, United States, 20/06/21 - 25/06/21 pp. 560-563. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117, https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117

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AU - Khalifa, Sherif

AU - Mastrorocco, Benjamin

AU - Au, Dylan

AU - Barnes, Teresa

AU - Carpenter, Alberta

AU - Baxter, Jason

N1 - See NREL/CP-6A20-80275 for preprint

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This paper examines the impacts of design, operational, and end-of-life (EOL) waste pathways' parameters on material circularity in silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Dynamic material flow analysis (DMFA) quantifies time-series material flows through systems' life cycle stages to identify hotspots of waste generation, estimate resource needs in the future, and guide sustainable material management. We introduce a DMFA framework based on U.S. electricity demand for the period 2000-2100 to assess stocks and flows of bulk PV materials (i.e., solar glass and aluminum frames). We apply the model to a range of scenarios to understand how material demands depend on selected PV-related parameters, different material circularity strategies, and recent module design trends (e.g., bifacials, large-format-high power modules). Our results enable advanced planning for future materials needs and provide insight into potential opportunities to minimize material waste.

AB - This paper examines the impacts of design, operational, and end-of-life (EOL) waste pathways' parameters on material circularity in silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Dynamic material flow analysis (DMFA) quantifies time-series material flows through systems' life cycle stages to identify hotspots of waste generation, estimate resource needs in the future, and guide sustainable material management. We introduce a DMFA framework based on U.S. electricity demand for the period 2000-2100 to assess stocks and flows of bulk PV materials (i.e., solar glass and aluminum frames). We apply the model to a range of scenarios to understand how material demands depend on selected PV-related parameters, different material circularity strategies, and recent module design trends (e.g., bifacials, large-format-high power modules). Our results enable advanced planning for future materials needs and provide insight into potential opportunities to minimize material waste.

KW - Circular economy

KW - crystalline silicon photovoltaics

KW - dynamic material flow analysis

KW - waste management

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DO - 10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9519117

M3 - Paper

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T2 - 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021

Y2 - 20 June 2021 through 25 June 2021

ER -

A Circularity Assessment for Silicon Solar Panels Based on Dynamic Material Flow Analysis

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

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