PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy: Preprint

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

PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy: Preprint

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

Materials Science

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

An ideal circular economy has no waste, end-of-life resources become new goods, and all production loops are closed. For the photovoltaic industry’s growing waste problem, quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research needs. In this work we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We then study the material and energy flows for PV production and use, and identify the circular processes and pathways yielding the most impact. We discuss material circularity and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity.

Original language	American English
Number of pages	9
State	Published - 2021
Event	48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 48) - Duration: 20 Jun 2021 → 25 Jun 2021

Conference

Conference	48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 48)
Period	20/06/21 → 25/06/21

Bibliographical note

See NREL/CP-5K00-81259 for paper as published in proceedings

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-5K00-78989

Keywords

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

Access to Document

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/78989.pdf

Cite this

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

abstract = "An ideal circular economy has no waste, end-of-life resources become new goods, and all production loops are closed. For the photovoltaic industry{\textquoteright}s growing waste problem, quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research needs. In this work we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We then study the material and energy flows for PV production and use, and identify the circular processes and pathways yielding the most impact. We discuss material circularity and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity.",

keywords = "bifacial, circular economy, energy return on investment (EROI), photovoltaics, recycle, reliability, repair, reuse",

author = "Silvana Ovaitt and Heather Mirletz and Acadia Hegedus and Ashley Gaulding and Teresa Barnes",

note = "See NREL/CP-5K00-81259 for paper as published in proceedings; 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 48) ; Conference date: 20-06-2021 Through 25-06-2021",

year = "2021",

language = "American English",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy: Preprint

AU - Ovaitt, Silvana

AU - Mirletz, Heather

AU - Hegedus, Acadia

AU - Gaulding, Ashley

AU - Barnes, Teresa

N1 - See NREL/CP-5K00-81259 for paper as published in proceedings

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - An ideal circular economy has no waste, end-of-life resources become new goods, and all production loops are closed. For the photovoltaic industry’s growing waste problem, quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research needs. In this work we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We then study the material and energy flows for PV production and use, and identify the circular processes and pathways yielding the most impact. We discuss material circularity and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity.

AB - An ideal circular economy has no waste, end-of-life resources become new goods, and all production loops are closed. For the photovoltaic industry’s growing waste problem, quantifying the value of lifetime, reliability, repair, reuse, recycling and other options to increase circularity can help identify and prioritize research needs. In this work we capture the evolution of PV module technology, such as improved reliability and increasing market share of glass/glass modules. We then study the material and energy flows for PV production and use, and identify the circular processes and pathways yielding the most impact. We discuss material circularity and energy return on investment as quantitative metrics to define and evaluate circularity.

KW - bifacial

KW - circular economy

KW - energy return on investment (EROI)

KW - photovoltaics

KW - recycle

KW - reliability

KW - repair

KW - reuse

M3 - Paper

T2 - 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 48)

Y2 - 20 June 2021 through 25 June 2021

ER -

PV Evolution in the Light of Circular Economy: Preprint

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this