Fraction Separation Potential in the Recycling Process of Photovoltaic Panels at the Installation Site—A Conceptual Framework from an Economic and Ecological Safety Perspective

Abstract

There has been a significant increase in the use of photovoltaics over the last two decades and according to many forecasts, the next two decades are expected to be characterised by even more dynamic growth. However, the long-term durability of PV panels will primarily depend on the effectiveness of legislation and processes that will be adopted to recycle an unprecedented amount of end-of-life panels to be built in the coming decades and the ones that desperately need to be recycled (predicted amount of photovoltaic waste by 2050: 78 million tonnes). As the main part of this research, a systematic review of the literature was carried out. The aim of this was to create a conceptual framework for the analysis of the fraction separation potential in the recycling process of PV panels at the installation site from the economic and environmental safety perspective, because it is agreed that the main cost that has the greatest environmental impact in the process of recycling materials from PV panels is the transport. According to this review, there is a research gap in terms of research on the recycling potential of photovoltaic panels at the site; however, those studies that touch this area clearly indicate the potential benefits, both economic and environmental.