PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy

Silvana Ovaitt; Heather M. Mirletz; Acadia Hegedus; Ashley Gaulding; Teresa Barnes

doi:10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518683

PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy

Silvana Ovaitt, Heather M. Mirletz, Acadia Hegedus, Ashley Gaulding, Teresa Barnes

Materials Science

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

4 Scopus Citations

Abstract

As photovoltaic (PV) deployments increase, the increasing material volume presents challenges throughout the supply chain and eventual end-of-life waste management. Quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling, and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research and technical solutions required to integrate PV into the circular economy. In this work, we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We discuss material circularity, lifetime and reliability, and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity and sustainability.

Original language	American English
Pages	1570-1575
Number of pages	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518683 https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518683
State	Published - 20 Jun 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-5K00-78989 for preprint

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-5K00-81259

Keywords

bifacial
circular economy
energy return on investment (EROI)
photovoltaics
recycle
reliability
repair
reuse
technology evolution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy",

abstract = "As photovoltaic (PV) deployments increase, the increasing material volume presents challenges throughout the supply chain and eventual end-of-life waste management. Quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling, and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research and technical solutions required to integrate PV into the circular economy. In this work, we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We discuss material circularity, lifetime and reliability, and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity and sustainability.",

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T1 - PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy

AU - Ovaitt, Silvana

AU - Mirletz, Heather M.

AU - Hegedus, Acadia

AU - Gaulding, Ashley

AU - Barnes, Teresa

N1 - See NREL/CP-5K00-78989 for preprint

PY - 2021/6/20

Y1 - 2021/6/20

N2 - As photovoltaic (PV) deployments increase, the increasing material volume presents challenges throughout the supply chain and eventual end-of-life waste management. Quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling, and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research and technical solutions required to integrate PV into the circular economy. In this work, we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We discuss material circularity, lifetime and reliability, and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity and sustainability.

AB - As photovoltaic (PV) deployments increase, the increasing material volume presents challenges throughout the supply chain and eventual end-of-life waste management. Quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling, and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research and technical solutions required to integrate PV into the circular economy. In this work, we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We discuss material circularity, lifetime and reliability, and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity and sustainability.

KW - bifacial

KW - circular economy

KW - energy return on investment (EROI)

KW - photovoltaics

KW - recycle

KW - reliability

KW - repair

KW - reuse

KW - technology evolution

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U2 - 10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518683

DO - 10.1109/PVSC43889.2021.9518683

M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:85115970096

SP - 1570

EP - 1575

T2 - 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2021

Y2 - 20 June 2021 through 25 June 2021

ER -

PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

UN SDGs

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