LCA-Informed Approach for Lower Environmental Impact Recycling of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

The impending wave of decommissioning of photovoltaic (PV) modules, installed in the early 2000s and reaching gigawatt scale by 2030, poses a significant environmental and social challenge. End-of-life silicon PV modules, abundant in high-purity trace metals, offer a significant potential for recycling. We have developed an innovative and sustainable chemical process that combines low-concentration alkaline solutions with iron chloride for the efficient recovery of aluminium and metallic silver from waste solar cells. This process is characterized by a minimal environmental impact, reducing the life cycle assessment impact by half compared to conventional methods.