TY - GEN
T1 - Technologies to Improve the Profitability of Silicon PV Module Recycling
AU - Tao, Meng
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was partially supported by the United States National Science Foundation under grant number 1904544. The author would like to thank Drs. V. Fthenakis, B. Ebin, B.-M. Steenari, P. Sinha, R. Corkish, K. Wambach, E. S. Simon, W.-H. Huang, Mr. C. S. Tao, and Ms. E. Butler for insightful discussions and collaborations on Si module recycling, on which many of the opinions and views in this paper are based.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 FTFMD
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - With today's technology, the cost for recycling Si PV modules far exceeds the revenue from recycling. This paper examines two recycling scenarios which can improve the profitability of Si module recycling: 1) module reuse and 2) material extraction and reuse. The process sequences for the two scenarios are outlined, along with the potential revenues, the recycling technologies needed, and the major challenges for each scenario. Material extraction and reuse is the ultimate solution for module recycling. A two-stage recycling process is proposed for this scenario. The first stage is module recycling which can be done locally to recover and recycle ~95% of the module weight. The second stage is cell recycling which is carried out in centralized facilities involving chemical processing. Several module trends which negatively impact module recyclability are discussed including dual-glass modules and reduced Ag consumption in modules.
AB - With today's technology, the cost for recycling Si PV modules far exceeds the revenue from recycling. This paper examines two recycling scenarios which can improve the profitability of Si module recycling: 1) module reuse and 2) material extraction and reuse. The process sequences for the two scenarios are outlined, along with the potential revenues, the recycling technologies needed, and the major challenges for each scenario. Material extraction and reuse is the ultimate solution for module recycling. A two-stage recycling process is proposed for this scenario. The first stage is module recycling which can be done locally to recover and recycle ~95% of the module weight. The second stage is cell recycling which is carried out in centralized facilities involving chemical processing. Several module trends which negatively impact module recyclability are discussed including dual-glass modules and reduced Ag consumption in modules.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85125806009
T3 - Proceedings of AM-FPD 2021 - 28th International Workshop on Active-Matrix Flatpanel Displays and Devices: TFT Technologies and FPD Materials
SP - 55
EP - 58
BT - Proceedings of AM-FPD 2021 - 28th International Workshop on Active-Matrix Flatpanel Displays and Devices
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 28th International Workshop on Active-Matrix Flatpanel Displays and Devices: TFT Technologies and FPD Materials, AM-FPD 2021
Y2 - 29 June 2021 through 2 July 2021
ER -