Recycling of Solar PV Modules: Techniques, Challenges, Policy, and Environmental Impact delves into the multifaceted domain of solar photovoltaic module recycling. Starting with solar energy and the life cycle of solar panels, it addresses solar cell types, challenges, and recycling techniques. Additionally, it explores regulations and policy, environmental impact, and the economic implications. Engaging with sustainability, economics, and innovation, this book is a comprehensive resource for those interested in solar photovoltaics, end-of-life processes, recycling, and sustainability—including researchers, students, engineers, and policy makers.
The book features detailed chapters on solar cell types, challenges in recycling, and state-of-the-art techniques for processing used modules. It discusses regulations, policies, the environmental and economic impact, and how sustainability intersects with innovation. Ideal for researchers, advanced students, engineers, R&D scientists, and policy makers, this work provides valuable insights into the critical matters of solar panel recycling and environmental responsibility.
1. Introduction to solar energy, solar panels, life cycle, and
recycling
2. Introduction to solar PV technology
3. Challenges in solar PV recycling
4. Techniques in solar PV recycling
5. Regulations, policy, and global trends of PV recycling
6. Environmental impacts and benefits of PV recycling
7. Economic impact and assessment for solar PV module recycling
8. Conclusion: Challenges, innovations, and future prospects in solar PV
recycling
Md. Shahariar Chowdhury, PhD, is a full-time Researcher at the Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, in Thailand, having previously served as Lecturer at the same institution. A distinguished academic and researcher, he has been ranked as number two researcher in the field of Energy of 500 scholars at Prince of Songkla University. In addition to his teaching role, he serves as a part-time research fellow at INTI International University (Malaysia) and as a Visiting Lecturer at Universitas Airlangga (Indonesia). Dr. Chowdhury has published over 67 research articles, 2 review articles, 4 book chapters, and one book, and has acted as reviewer and guest editor for ISI-indexed journals. He previous received a full scholarship from the Thailand Education Hub (THE-AC) in 2017. His research primarily focuses on development and application of nanomaterials, semiconductor materials, and thin films for solar cells, as well as innovative solutions for photovoltaic (PV) recycling, e-waste recycling, and the broader spectrum of materials recycling.
Dr. Chinhua Chia is currently a Professor in the Materials Science Program at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia. He began his career at UKM in 2008 as a Senior Lecturer, before being promoted to Associate Professor (2013) and then full Professor (2021). To date, Prof. Chia has published 240 peer-reviewed articles, 5 books, and 6 book chapters. He received the Young Scientist Award from UKM (2012) and the Young Scientist Award from the Malaysian Solid State Science and Technology Society (2014) for his early career accomplishments, and in 2017 he received the Distinguished Lectureship Award from the Chemical Society of Japan. In addition, he was recently included in the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). Prof. Chias research focuses on synthesis of metallic and polymer nanomaterials, tailoring their nanostructure to optimize properties and performance for applications including wastewater treatment, supercapacitors, and hydrogen gas generation.
