What is residual value of a solar system?

As the solar industry continues to grow and mature, more and more attention is being paid to a solar system’s residual value – or the value of the system at the end of a project’s life.

How can a circular economy be achieved for solar photovoltaics?

Irrespective of the generation of the solar photovoltaics, a future circular economy for end-of-life practices for PV panels can be achieved only by including waste management considerations in the life cycle of production to business and marketing [16, 19, 39], and ensuring cooperation between stakeholders .

What happens if a solar panel is not recycled?

If not adequately recovered and recycled at the end of the operational life of panels, waste associated with precious metal elements such as tellurium, selenium, copper, silver, lead, chromium, silicon and cadmium could be harmful for the environment and human health .

Are solar panels recyclable?

Specific European regulations play an important role in the recycling of PV panels and electronic waste, and reducing such waste in landfills . In fact, recycling of solar panels leads to cost savings, particularly for the government, and job creation .

Do we need a circular system for photovoltaic systems?

This study highlights the urgency to develop and implement a suitable system for the collection and management of photovoltaic systems at their end-of-life cycle and the need for professional implementation of circular strategies in the solar PV value chain.

Why is circularity important for solar PV systems?

Circularity needs to penetrate the entire value chain of solar PV systems and apply to all current and to the potential new generation of photovoltaics, and systems thinking is necessary for implementing a circular framework for the entire solar PV value chain.