Recycling of cadmium and selenium from photovoltaic modules and manufacturing wastes
- eds.
Since the development of the first silicon based photovoltaic cell in the 1950's, large advances have been made in photovoltaic material and processing options. At present there is growing interest in the commercial potential of cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper indium diselenide (CIS) photovoltaic modules. As the commercial potential of these technologies becomes more apparent, interest in the environmental, health and safety issues associated with their production, use and disposal has also increased because of the continuing regulatory focus on cadmium and selenium. In future, recycling of spent or broken CdTe and CIS modules and manufacturing wastes may be needed for environmental, economic or political reasons. To assist industry to identify recycling options early in the commercialization process, a Workshop was convened. At this Workshop, representatives from the photovoltaic, electric utility, and nonferrous metals industries met to explore technical and institutional options for the recycling of spent CdTe and CIS modules and manufacturing wastes. This report summarizes the results of the Workshop. This report includes: (1) A discussion of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations and their potential implications to the photovoltaic industry; (2) an assessment of the needs of the photovoltaic industry from the perspective of module manufacturers and consumers; (3) an overview of recycling technologies now employed by other industries for similar types of materials; and, (4) a list of recommendation.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE; EPRI; NREL; CADCOU; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); Cadmium Council, Inc., Greenwich, CT (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 7006685
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-47787; CONF-9203206--; ON: DE93002115
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140600* -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
CADMIUM
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MEETINGS
METALS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER SUPPLIES
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECYCLING
RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT