Photovoltaic panel factory repair program

Can NREL help repair and reuse solar photovoltaic systems?

NREL analysts are helping to pave the way for repair, reuse, and recycling of solar photovoltaic system materials. Photo courtesy of iStock Rapidly increasing solar photovoltaic (PV) installations has led to environmental and supply chains concerns.

Are solar PV installations causing environmental and supply chains problems?

Photo courtesy of iStock Rapidly increasing solar photovoltaic (PV) installations has led to environmental and supply chains concerns. The United States relies on imports of raw materials for solar module manufacturing and imports of PV cells and modules to meet domestic demand.

Should PV modules be recycled?

In the United States, PV equipment such as modules that are destined for resource recovery are often regulated the same way as equipment destined for disposal. Therefore, there is no incentive to recycle, especially when disposal costs less.

What are NREL's best practices at the end of photovoltaic system performance period?

NREL’s Best Practices at the End of the Photovoltaic System Performance Period report includes recommendations for system owners, asset managers, and industry service providers regarding the handling and disposal of waste, including reuse and recycling of PV modules and other components as a way to reduce environmental impact.

Why do PV modules need to be cleaned?

PV module efficiency: the lower the efficiency the more area (m2) of array needs to be cleaned for the same benefit. It is tempting to combine these parameters to calculate a cleaning interval that justifies the cleaning expense.

Should PV modules be repurposed?

Today, there is little incentive for private industry to invest in PV recycling, repair, or reuse due to current market conditions and regulatory barriers. In the United States, only one manufacturer has implemented a "takeback” program to reuse or recycle retired PV modules.