Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules
The appropriateness of regulatory methods to characterise the toxicity of photovoltaic (PV) modules was investigated to quantify potential environmental impacts for modules disposed of in landfills. Because solar energy is perceived as a green technology, it is important to ensure that end-of-life i...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2017-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sustainable Energy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2015.1053392 |
| _version_ | 1797680381542006784 |
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| author | Mary Kayla Collins Annick Anctil |
| author_facet | Mary Kayla Collins Annick Anctil |
| author_sort | Mary Kayla Collins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The appropriateness of regulatory methods to characterise the toxicity of photovoltaic (PV) modules was investigated to quantify potential environmental impacts for modules disposed of in landfills. Because solar energy is perceived as a green technology, it is important to ensure that end-of-life issues will not be detrimental to solar energy's success. United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 1311, California waste extraction test, and modified versions of both were performed on a multi-crystalline silicon module and cells and a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) module. Variations in metal leachate concentrations were found with changes in testing parameters. Lead concentrations from the multi-crystalline module ranged from 16.2 to 50.2 mg/L. Cadmium concentrations from the CIGS module ranged from 0.1 to 3.52 mg/L. This raises doubt that regulatory methods can adequately characterise PV modules. The results are useful for developing end-of-life procedures, which is a positive step towards avoiding an e-waste problem and continuing trends of increasing installation and cost reduction in the PV market. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:29:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bef88ddb097848929a8bb04ae1cf3765 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-6451 1478-646X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:29:11Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sustainable Energy |
| spelling | doaj.art-bef88ddb097848929a8bb04ae1cf37652023-09-20T10:33:44ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Sustainable Energy1478-64511478-646X2017-07-0136653154410.1080/14786451.2015.10533921053392Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modulesMary Kayla Collins0Annick Anctil1Clemson UniversityMichigan State UniversityThe appropriateness of regulatory methods to characterise the toxicity of photovoltaic (PV) modules was investigated to quantify potential environmental impacts for modules disposed of in landfills. Because solar energy is perceived as a green technology, it is important to ensure that end-of-life issues will not be detrimental to solar energy's success. United States Environmental Protection Agency Method 1311, California waste extraction test, and modified versions of both were performed on a multi-crystalline silicon module and cells and a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) module. Variations in metal leachate concentrations were found with changes in testing parameters. Lead concentrations from the multi-crystalline module ranged from 16.2 to 50.2 mg/L. Cadmium concentrations from the CIGS module ranged from 0.1 to 3.52 mg/L. This raises doubt that regulatory methods can adequately characterise PV modules. The results are useful for developing end-of-life procedures, which is a positive step towards avoiding an e-waste problem and continuing trends of increasing installation and cost reduction in the PV market.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2015.1053392photovoltaic moduleswaste managementenvironment |
| spellingShingle | Mary Kayla Collins Annick Anctil Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules International Journal of Sustainable Energy photovoltaic modules waste management environment |
| title | Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules |
| title_full | Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules |
| title_fullStr | Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules |
| title_short | Implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules |
| title_sort | implications for current regulatory waste toxicity characterisation methods from analysing metal and metalloid leaching from photovoltaic modules |
| topic | photovoltaic modules waste management environment |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2015.1053392 |
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