Photovoltaic (PV) Panel Waste Volumes

Photovoltaic (PV) Panel Waste Volumes

Abstract

Many strategies have been developed particularly to handle end-of-life PV panel waste in addition to general waste regulations. This article outlines financial waste management panel principles and regulatory frameworks established for the UK and Japan.

UK: Projections for the PV Market and Waste Under EU-Directed PV-Specific Waste Laws

End-of-life panels remain a relatively new issue in the UK's PV sector. Despite starting from just under 1 GW in 2011, the UK PV market expanded to over 9 GW in 2015, and currently comprises more than 750,000 installations, representing rapid deployment in recent years. As of early 2014, when the UK implemented the WEEE Directive, three-quarters of the total PV capacity had been installed. Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Frameworks Although the UK's PV market remains nascent, implementation of the WEEE Directive, which took effect on 1 January 2014, primarily reflects the status quo regarding collection, processing and recycling. Prior to the WEEE Directive, the UK was additionally served by manufacturer take-back and recycling systems and voluntary producer schemes (such as PV CYCLE). As few PV installations existed before 2014, most end-of-life PV panels would have been covered by manufacturer warranties and returned through B2B channels. To implement the regulation, the UK established specific guidelines for identifying PV manufacturers and applied the extended producer responsibility principle. WEEE UK PV panel importer to the UK market; British manufacturer brand selling solar panels under its name; UK company selling produced or fabricated PV panels under its brand but imported by another party. All PV manufacturers in the UK must register through a manufacturer compliance scheme, as in other European markets (an industry-managed take-back and recycling scheme). Data on products for both domestic (B2C) and commercial (B2B) markets must be provided. However, UK WEEE regulations establish standards significantly different from the EU WEEE Directive regarding financing of B2C and B2B transactions. PV manufacturers are required to finance the collection of household (B2C) PV panels on the basis of market share. For example, if a manufacturer sells 10% (by weight) of new panels on the UK market in a given year, they are required to finance the collection and processing of 10% of old panels sold the following year. The year these panels were originally placed on the market is not considered. • If such panels are simultaneously being replaced, PV manufacturers should finance the collection and recycling of commercial (B2B) panels bearing the waste bin symbol as well as non-marked ones. A new requirement under UK WEEE legislation, in addition to the manufacturer compliance scheme, mandates participation of distributors in a distributor take-back programme. Multiple distributor take-back and manufacturer compliance programmes are currently available in the UK, both charging comparable service rates.   Establishing a Separate Category for PV Panels Under UK WEEE Regulations Following dialogue between the PV industry and the UK government, national legislation has established a new, distinct category dedicated to financing the collection and recycling of PV panels. Without such a category, PV manufacturers would face prohibitively high costs for collection and recycling of consumer WEEE. This is because financing obligations are determined by the weight of products placed on the market, and PV panels are the heaviest "equipment" used by households. The UK Government recognizes that PV manufacturers can develop sustainable strategies for collection and treatment of end-of-life PV panels, hence this special category designation has been granted. The establishment of a distinct PV category affords the PV industry greater control over financing for PV panel recycling and collection. Inclusion of PV panels in the UK, along with volumetric tracking of collected waste, requires priority updating of UK WEEE regulations. Future developments will likely occur elsewhere, as economies of scale currently prevent construction of private PV recycling facilities in the UK. Generally, waste must be processed within the UK under UK WEEE regulations. Nevertheless, high-value processing facilities for certain products (such as PV panels) do not exist in the UK. Export to other EU member states is permitted provided facilities there comply with UK processing facility standards.

UK Outlook

In coming years, the UK PV panel recycling market is likely to remain limited. However, strong government focus on building-integrated (BE-PV) photovoltaics and market pricing dynamics may stimulate development of new technologies, such as recycling of BE-PV components as part of building waste streams. Japan: A developed country without photovoltaic-specific waste regulations

Market Forecast for PV and Waste

Japan has been a PV pioneer for many years, making significant R&D contributions and hosting many leading global manufacturers (including Sharp, Kyocera and Panasonic). Although Japan's domestic PV market began modestly, a feed-in tariff introduced in July 2012 prompted rapid growth. Japan's installed PV capacity reached approximately 6.7 GW in 2012; by 2015, it had grown to 34.3 GW. According to this scenario model and Japanese government projections, Figure 3 presents PV panel waste estimates. By 2016, total waste volume could range between 7,000 and 35,000 tonnes, and by 2030, between 200,000 and 1 million tonnes. Compared with data in this study, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE) estimates are lower and project waste volumes at a later date. This discrepancy is primarily attributable to the methodology used here, which accounts for early-stage failures covered by warranty replacements not fully captured in end-of-life volume estimates by METI/MOE.  

PV Panel Waste Estimates for Japan

According to Japan's Guidelines for the Management of End-of-Life PV Panels, issued in April 2016, end-of-life PV panel waste would reach 2,808 tonnes in 2020. After 2030, it will reach 28,800 tonnes, followed by 61,000 tonnes in 2035, 9,580 tonnes in 2025, and eventually 775,000 tonnes by 2039. Figure 2 compares the METI/MOE scenario with annual PV panel waste volumes from this report for selected years. Waste streams in Japan's national scenario are smaller than those in this report's early-loss and normal-loss scenarios, but by 2035, they increase substantially.

Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Frameworks

End-of-life PV panel regulations must be addressed within Japan's general waste management regulatory framework, the Waste Management and Public Sanitation Act, as no PV-specific regulations currently exist. This legislation defines waste and industrial waste management, including landfill disposal, and specifies the responsibilities of industrial waste generators and processors. The Construction Waste Recycling Act also addresses handling of waste from construction and decommissioning activities. The law mandates recovery and recycling of concrete, timber and building materials (including concrete, iron and asphalt). Despite the absence of a legal definition for PV panels, recent interpretations suggest that PV panels integrated with construction materials may be subject to recycling requirements. Ground-mounted PV systems are not subject to this requirement.

The Law Also Applies to System Components Composed of Iron or Concrete

Assessment of end-of-life management including recycling, without liabilities or penalties, forms part of a proposed reform to Japan's renewable electricity feed-in tariff scheme. Since 2013, METI and MOE have collaborated on evaluating methods for managing renewable energy equipment at end-of-life, including solar panels, solar water heaters and wind turbines. A roadmap for promoting collection, recycling and proper treatment planning was produced in a June 2015 report. The promotion of technological R&D, environmentally sound design, disassembly, transportation and processing standards, and stakeholder engagement were also addressed. The first edition of recommendations for promoting appropriate end-of-life management, including recycling, was released in April 2016 based on this roadmap. These reports are anticipated to prompt further analysis of regulations governing PV panel waste disposal at end-of-life.   In the next article, we will continue with Japan's WEEE targets and financing schemes. We respectfully remember those we lost in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake and extend our condolences to all affected. We wish you good health and wellbeing with your loved ones. [caption id="attachment_151057" align="aligncenter"] Figure 4. Waste from PV Panels[/caption]   Assistant Professor Dr. Cemil Koyunoğlu Department of Energy Systems Engineering Faculty of Engineering Yalova University