Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-qks25 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-15T15:42:31.125Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Life Cycle Analysis of Solar Module Recycling Process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Anja Müller ,
Karsten Wambach  and
Erik Alsema
Anja Müller
Affiliation:
karsten.wambach@deutschesolar.de, Deutsche Solar AG, SolarMaterial, Alfred Lange Str 18, Freiberg, Saxony, 09599, Germany, ++49 3731 7982273, ++49 3731 798210
Karsten Wambach
Affiliation:
karsten.wambach@deutschesolar.de, Deutsche Solar AG, SolarMaterial, Germany
Erik Alsema
Affiliation:
e.a.alsema@chem.uu.nl, Utrecht University, Science, Technology and Society, Copernicus Institute, Netherlands
Get access

Abstract

Since June 2003 Deutsche Solar AG is operating a recycling plant for modules with crystalline cells. The aim of the process is to recover the silicon wafers so that they can be reprocessed and integrated in modules again. The aims of the Life Cycle Analysis of the mentioned process are (i) the verification if the process is beneficial regarding environmental aspects, (ii) the comparison to other end-of-life scenarios, (iii) the ability to include the end-of-life phase of modules in future LCA of photovoltaic modules. The results show that the recycling process makes good ecological sense, because the environmental burden during the production phase of reusable components is higher than the burden due to the recycling process. Moreover the Energy Pay Back Time of modules with recycled cells was determined.

Keywords

photovoltaicwaste managementSi
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 895: Symposium G – Life-Cycle Analysis Tools for “Green” Materials and Process Selection , 2005 , 0895-G03-07
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Sander, K., Zangl, S., Reichmuth, M., Schröder, G., Stoffbezogene Anforderungen an Photovoltaikprodukte und deren Entsorgung, Institut für Ökologie und Umwelt Hamburg, Institut für Energetik und Umwelt GmbH Leipzig, 2003.Google Scholar
2. Wambach, K., Schlenker, S., Stoffkreisläufe in der Photovoltaik, Freiberger Solartage 2005, (http://www.saxonia-freiberg.de/start/index?action=download&id=140)Google Scholar
3. Bombach, E., Wambach, K., Müller, A., Röver, I., Recycling of Solar Cells and Modules – Recent Improvements, 20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Barcelona 2005 Google Scholar
4. Alsema, E. A., de Wild-Scholten, M. J., Environmental Impacts of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Module Production, MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, USA, Nov.29-Dec.2 2005 Google Scholar
5. Siemer, J., Neues Leben für ein altes Kraftwerk 6 - 88, Photon November 2005 Google Scholar
6. Jungbluth, N., Life Cycle Assessment of Crystalline Photovoltaics in the Swiss ecoinvent Database. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 2005 (in press).Google Scholar
7. Röver, I., Wambach, K., Weinreich, W., Roewer, G., Processs controlling of the etching system HF/HNO3/HNO2, 20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Barcelona 2005 Google Scholar
8. Council decision of 19 December 2002: establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Article 16 of and Annex II to Directive 1999/31/EC; Official Jounal of the European Communities L 11/27Google Scholar