Recycling of photovoltaic modules for recovery and repurposing of materials

Recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic modules (PVMs) attracts the attention of researchers due to valuable materials present in it. With the advances in the PVM manufacturing newer materials are used recently, including silicon wafer and thin film solar cells dominate the market and are key PVM categories requiring recycling. Owing to the high demand of raw materials, recycling of PVMs becomes crucial. Recycling of PMVs is a combination of chemical, physical and thermal processes. To optimize the recycling process for minimum cost and environmental effect, combinations of these processes are investigated in the present review. Major concerns of PVMs recycling are Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) removal and metal extraction with minimum evolution of toxic gases, and effluents. Cost analysis is also crucial for recycling processes. Preliminary down-cycle recycling includes crushing, grinding, milling, and shredding processes. Life cycle analysis depicts the effect of PVMs on the environment and projects the reduction of energy payback time by recycling of materials. In this review, the upcycling process is elaborated with the repurposing of materials for conventional PVM application and other uses. With these insights, the utilization of recycled materials can be targeted in future years. This review encompasses all the key aspects of PVM recycling.