Recycling of PV Modules and its Environmental Impacts

The environmental impacts of the recycling technology which is available for crystalline Si, thin-film Si and CIGS PV modules were evaluated. The recycling of these PV modules results in net environmental benefits according to Global warming potential (GWP); Acidification potential (AP); Human toxicity potential (HTP); and Abiotic resource depletion potential (ADP). On the other hands, although net impacts are small, it is resulted the environmental burdens on Photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP) and Eutrophication potential (EP) outweigh the avoided burdens by recycling efforts. However, technology improvement and efficient transportation will contribute to reducing these impacts.