Standardization as a pathway to a circular PV industry: Addressing material recovery and design challenges

The global deployment of photovoltaic (PV) systems is expanding rapidly as nations pursue low carbon energy transitions. This growth, however, is accompanied by increasing pressure on critical materials, including aluminium and low iron silica sand, which are essential for PV module manufacturing. Both materials face supply challenges and contribute significantly to environmental impacts during extraction and processing. End-of-life PV modules present an opportunity for circular resource use, yet remanufacturing is currently hindered by technological limitations, contamination risks, and heterogeneity in module design. In this study, we argue that standardization of PV modules, especially in terms of physical dimensions, can be a key enabler of scalable and effective recycling, remanufacturing, and reuse. A conceptual framework is presented that links physical standardization with suitable recovery technologies and supportive policy mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility. A comparative analysis highlights the energy and material recovery advantages of the standardized approach over current practices. Together, these insights highlight that PV module standardization is not only feasible but also essential for achieving a circular economy in the PV sector. • Rapid PV growth raises aluminium (Al) and glass demand, creating their possible supply risks. • Recycling reduces energy and material use but faces purity and design variability issues. • Variable module design complicates efficient material recovery and remanufacturing process. • Photovoltaic module standardization enables a uniform and efficient recycling pathway. • Gentle deframing and hot-knife and waterjet delamination methods enable whole-glass recovery for reuse in new modules.