Assessing life cycle environmental impacts of solar photovoltaics in India with a focus on end-of-life disposal.

Abstract

The rapid adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has raised concerns regarding its end-of-life (EoL) disposal after their 25-30-year lifespan. This study conducts a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) excluding the distribution and use phases of solar PVs using GaBi 8.7 software, evaluating landfill, incineration, and recycling across five environmental impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), particulate matter (PM), and human toxicity potential (HTP). Results show that recycling significantly reduces GWP by 49% compared to incineration (354 kg CO₂ equivalent vs. 693 kg CO₂ equivalent) and by 48% compared to landfill (677 kg CO₂ equivalent), while HTP impact is reduced by 85%. Although incineration allows partial energy recovery, it has the highest environmental footprint across most impact categories except HTP. The findings emphasize the need for strong regulatory frameworks to promote solar PV waste recycling, aligning with circular economy principles to mitigate environmental impact. It is found that the recycling of c-Si solar PV generates the lowest environmental footprint of 354 kg CO₂ equivalent when compared to other disposal techniques and promotes resource recovery. The results of the study can be used for policy formulation, promoting sustainable disposal of solar PVs.