Exploring PV Circularity by Modeling Socio-Technical Dynamics of Modules’ End-of-Life Management
The circular economy (CE) tackles environmental and resource scarcity issues by maximizing value retention in the economy. The concept implies design strategies such as reducing the use of materials or improving products’ durability and end-of-life (EOL) strategies, for example, reusing products and components and recycling materials. With an estimated 80 million tons of global cumulative EOL photovoltaic (PV) modules, applying CE principles to the PV industry could alleviate resource scarcity issues while also providing economic benefits. However, transitioning to a CE may imply changes in organizations and consumer behaviors. In this context, assessment of CE strategies may require accounting for behavioral change, a requirement that methods from complex system science such as agent-based modeling meet. Thus, this paper uses an agent-based modeling (ABM) approach to study circularity in the photovoltaics supply chain. Four types of agents are represented in the ABM: PV owners, installers, recyclers, and manufacturers. Moreover, five possible EOL options – including three CE strategies – are modeled. Departing from traditional techno-economic analysis, the model includes techno-economic factors as well as social factors to model EOL management decisions. Results show that each dollar decrease in the recycling fees improves the recycling rate by roughly 1.1%. However, excluding social factors underestimates the effect that lower recycling prices have on material circularity.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Manufacturing Office; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Strategic Programs (EE-SP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1826677
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-6A20-81264; MainId:82037; UUID:c035d867-8fae-4547-876b-b3fbd9105e8b; MainAdminID:63219
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the 2021 IEEE 48th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 20-25 June 2021; Related Information: 79042
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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