The Global Circular Economy for the Electric Power Industry and Opportunities for Solar Photovoltaics

The global circular economy considers interactions between sectors, nations, and global systems. Electricity is an essential and universal element in a successful economy, and implications for the electric power industry are wide-ranging, affecting the choice and lifecycle management of the fuels and equipment necessary for electric power production, transmission, distribution, and consumption. In the transition to renewable energy, which includes significant deployment of solar photovoltaics, there are unique considerations to promote efficient and sustainable use of resources that can help improve material security, as well as environmental, social, and economic outcomes.