Integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions in the life cycle sustainability assessment of photovoltaic module recycling: Evidence from Northwest Mexico
Academic Article in Scopus
This study presents an integrated life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of photovoltaic (PV) module recycling in Northwest Mexico by simultaneously evaluating environmental, economic, and social dimensions, addressing the limited application of comprehensive sustainability assessments for PV end-of-life (EOL) management in emerging economies. Environmental impacts were assessed through life cycle assessment (LCA) following ISO 14040/14044 standards for a 1 kWp monocrystalline silicon PV system with and without EOL recycling. Recycling reduced 17 of the 18 ReCiPe 2016 midpoint impact categories, including mineral resource scarcity (-50.3%), freshwater ecotoxicity (-28.9%), marine ecotoxicity (-34.9%), and human non-carcinogenic toxicity (-27.1%), while stratospheric ozone depletion slightly increased (+2.6%) due to nitric acid use. Recovery of silver (Ag) and silicon (Si) contributed most to impact mitigation. Economic assessment using the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) showed that recycling reduced the LCOE from 0.0813 to 0.0794 USD/kWh under the baseline scenario with a 15% recycling incentive. Sensitivity analysis showed that recycling remained economically competitive without financial incentives under most evaluated conditions, with the nominal discount rate and inflation exerting the greatest influence on economic performance. A knowledge-attitudes-practices (KAP) survey of 18 PV companies revealed recognition of environmental risks associated with improper disposal (72%), unanimous support for recycling (100%), and willingness to collaborate with universities on training and environmental education initiatives (94%). Overall, the findings provide a comprehensive basis for evidence-based decision-making on sustainable PV module EOL management and circular economy strategies in emerging solar markets.
