2015-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2015 Volume 11: Recycling & Environmental
| Editors: | Kongoli F, Havlik T, Pagnanelli F |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2015 |
| Pages: | 410 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-34-8 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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First Outcomes from Photolife Project: Process and Automated Pilot Plant for Simultaneous and Integral Recycling of Different Kinds of Photovoltaic Panels
Francesca Pagnanelli1; Emanuela Moscardini2; Thomas Abo Atia3; Luigi Toro3; Pietro Altimari3;1SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY OF ROME, Rome, Italy; 2UNIVERSITA , Roma, Italy; 3SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY, Rome, Italy;
Type of Paper: Plenary
Id Paper: 48
Topic: 7
Abstract:
Photolife project aims at the realization of a prototype for automatic treatment of different kinds of photovoltaic panels (Si-based, Cd-Te and innovative types) according to a common process route. A demonstration activity is foreseen including the retrieval and treatment in the prototype of the collected photovoltaic devices.
Laboratory data were used to formulate energy and mass balances for PV panel treatment according to two process schemes (thermal treatment vs. solvent treatment for EVA disruption and panel opening). Solvent treatment gives final recovery yields of glass similar to thermal treatment with lower energy consumption and higher glass quality. Demonstration activities will allow the characterization of EVA residues after solvent treatment and the evaluation of their reuse.
Historical data of PV installation in EU were employed to estimate the fluxes of wastes resulting from the disposal of end-life photovoltaic panels during the period 2025-2045. In 2011 in Italy a dramatic increase was registered due to government incentives, but such peak was not maintained during successive years. Accordingly a big amount of wastes should be expected since 2030. More specifically the amount of wastes to be treated in Italy will remain around 400.000 ton/year even in the period 2030-2055.
Preliminary economic analysis of the Photolife process evidenced that feasibility can be reached starting from 75.000 ton/y for Si-based panels, while larger potentiality (>200.000 ton/y) is necessary if only CdTe are fed in the plant. These results encouraged the choice of a unique process route for the treatment of different kinds of PV panels as proposed in the Photolife project, which reaches economic feasibility for potentiality in agreement with future national waste fluxes.
Preliminary LCA evidenced that the Photolife approach is very favourable for the environment, giving net credits for the most relevant impact categories considered.
Keywords:
Photovoltaic; Recycling; Wastes;References:
[1] Bio Intelligence Service Study on photovoltaic panels supplementing the impact assessment for a recast of the WEEE Directive – Final Report 14 April 2011, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/weee/pdf/Study%20on%20PVs%20Bio%20final.pdf[2] G. Granata, F. Pagnanelli, E. Moscardini, Z. Takakova, T. Havlik, L. Toro, Simultaneous recycling of nickel metal hydride, lithium ion and primary lithium batteries: Accomplishment of European Guidelines by optimizing mechanical pre-treatment and solvent extraction operations, J. Power Sources 212 (2012) 205-211.
[3] Ökopol (2007): Study on the Development of a Take Back and Recovery System for Photovoltaic Products,Knut Sander, Stephanie Schilling und Jan Reinschmidt et al. Ökopol, BSW, Isofoton, Deutsche Solar, Kubier, EPIA, Würth Solar, First Solar, Sharp.
[4] European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) (2014) Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018.
[5] Gestione Servizi Energetici (GSE) “Rapporto Statistico Solare Fotovoltaico” (2012)
[6] M. Marwede, A. Reller, Future recycling flows of tellurium from cadmium telluride photovoltaic waste Resources, Conservation and Recycling 69 (2012) 35– 49