Circularity in the PV Industry Analysis of Environmental Impacts for Reused PV Panels

The rapid growth of the photovoltaic (PV) industry presents increasing challenges in managing decommissioned panels, particularly in cases of premature replacement. This study conducts a comparative cradle-tograve life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of reusing versus recycling multicrystalline and monocrystalline silicon PV panels. The results indicate that extending PV panels’ operational life to their full lifespan yields the lowest environmental footprint. In scenarios of premature decommissioning, panel reuse proves more environmentally beneficial than recycling. The reuse of Balance of System (BOS) components is especially crucial, with potential impact reductions of up to 24% when 80% of BOS elements are reused. This study emphasizes the importance of maintaining a low panel loss rate after decommissioning to ensure the environmental advantages of reuse over recycling.