Circular solar power plant design

What is a circular economy for PV materials?

Most envision a circular economy for PV materials in which modules (or the glass, silicon, aluminum, and other materials that compose them) are recaptured at the end of their life for reuse or recycling.

What is circularity in solar PV?

Most studies on circularity in the solar PV sector deal with technical aspects, mostly considering recycling [11, 12, 13] and product design . Presently, recycling is the default pathway for decommissioned PV panels, enabling recovery of high-value raw materials [14, 15].

How can solar PV manufacturers achieve circularity?

Another pathway to enable circularity for solar PV manufacturers is voluntary labeling procedures that provide transparency into module composition, justify hazardous waste classifications, and/or document overall carbon intensity , , , , , .

Can digital platforms Foster circularity in the solar PV industry?

However, opportunities for other circularity strategies, such as repair and reuse of PV panels that have not yet reached their technical lifetime [6, 17, 18], as well as the potential of digital platforms to foster data-enhanced circular practices in the solar PV industry have only recently received increased attention.

Is circular solar PV a viable business model?

The success of circular business models stands or falls by the adoption of these models by customers, which confirms the need for exploring non-technical aspects of circular solar PV adoption, i.e., whether a business model is desirable, feasible, viable, next to more sustainable .

What are the circular economy principles for solar photovoltaics?

Circular economy principles for solar photovoltaics In addition to delivering electricity to the grid, solar energy generation is expected to play a critical role in achieving deep electricity decarbonization and support economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions through electrification of other sectors.