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    Evaluating the availability of gallium, indium, and tellurium from recycled photovoltaic modules

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Redlinger, M.
    Eggert, Roderick
    Woodhouse, M.
    Date
    2015
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Redlinger, M. and Eggert, R. and Woodhouse, M. 2015. Evaluating the availability of gallium, indium, and tellurium from recycled photovoltaic modules. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 138: pp. 58-71.
    Source Title
    Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
    DOI
    10.1016/j.solmat.2015.02.027
    ISSN
    0927-0248
    School
    Curtin Graduate School of Business
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/22483
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The use of thin-film copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) and cadmium-telluride (CdTe) in solar technologies has grown rapidly in recent years, leading to an increased demand for gallium, indium, and tellurium. In the coming years, recycling these elements from end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules may be an important part of their overall supply, but little is known about the economic feasibility and the potential quantities available. This article investigates the future role of PV recycling in supplying gallium, indium, and tellurium. The authors evaluate both the quantities available from recycling over the next century and the associated costs for recycling modules and reusing each element in PV manufacturing. The findings indicate that, in terms of technical potential, there may be significant quantities of each element available from recycling CIGS and CdTe modules. The estimated cost of recovering each element from end-of-life PV modules and reusing it in PV manufacturing is higher than current raw mineral costs; however, learning and economies of scale may reduce the reported early estimates of recycling costs. These findings help improve the understanding of recycling's role in enabling higher levels of CIGS and CdTe module production.

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