Research
PVREfaCE started its scientific research with the project “Recycling of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Panels via Life Cycle Analysis” supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye in the second term of 2021, within the scope of the "1001- The Scientific and Technological Research Projects Funding Program".
PVREfaCE is the first project team established in Turkey to research the recycling of photovoltaic modules. The project is carried out in cooperation with expert academics working at Ege University Solar Energy Institute, İzmir Institute of Technology, and İzmir Democracy University. The project also has a dynamic and young working environment with undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
NEWS
BEST For SOLAR IDEATHON
PVREfaCE won First Prize with the project titled “Establishment of a Recycling Plant for Crystalline Silicon PV Panels” at the Solar Energy Ideathon – Best Energy Project competition.
The event was supported by the European Commission within the scope of the Competitive Sectors Programme of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology.
22-23 October 2022
.avif)
PARTNERS
Researchers
Project Coordinator
Project Team Member
Project Team Member
Project Team Member
Project Team Member
Grants
THE PROJECT
Objective
Photovoltaic (PV) modules, which are increasing rapidly every year, are becoming a common waste problem in the world, as they have an average lifespan of 25-30 years. Although PV modules are an important renewable energy source in electrical energy production for the green transition, the issue of what happens to the valuable minerals and toxic components in the content of PV modules at the end of their life is an important research issue that needs to be resolved within the scope of sustainability. Against this rapidly growing waste problem, the PVREfaCE team aims to provide eco-friendly, energy-efficient, economic, and most importantly sustainable contributions for future generations.
PUBLICATIONS
A novel enzymatic delamination method for sustainable recycling of crystal silicon photovoltaic (c-Si PV) modules
Separation and Purification Technology. Volume 361, Part 1, 19 July 2025 Sadık Can Karagöz, Tuğba Keskin Gündoğdu, Hüseyin Sarıaltın, Melih Soner Celiktas ABSTRACT Due to the growing effects of global warming, there has been a surge in the demand for renewable energy sources. In particular, the most important player in this increase is the installation of photovoltaic (PV) modules. At this critical stage, it has become a priority to identify strategic approaches for the recycling of end-of-life PV panels with a strong focus on environmental protection. This study examined the impact of enzymatic delamination on the separation of the EVA (Ethylne Viniyl Aceate Co polymer) layer, a crucial stage in the recycling process of PV panels. Notably, this investigation is the first of its kind in the existing literature. To investigate this, delamination effects of lipase, laccase, and lecitase enzymes were analyzed according to experimental design methods. Furthermore, sunflower oil was employed for the first time in the existing body of literature to facilitate delamination, resulting in a delamination rate of 100 %. The environmental impacts of these biotechnological techniques, which serve as alternatives to the commonly used toluene, were also comparatively assessed by life cycle assessment (LCA) method to analyze the environmental impact. LCA methodology was performed from gate to gate and the Recipe impact methodology was used. Oil assisted enzymatic delamination method was shown to be an alternative from environmental point of view to solvent based method such as toluene. Keywords: PV recycle, WEEE, LCA, EVA, Responsible consumption and production
Subcritical water delamination: A promising path to efficient recycling of critical minerals
Journal of Cleaner Production Volume 469, 1 September 2024 Asli Birturk, Melih Soner Celiktas ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to degrade the polymer layers within crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic modules and delaminate the essential valuable minerals for recycling, employing solely the thermodynamic attributes of water under subcritical conditions and abstaining from the utilization of chemical solvents. The c-Si wafer was successfully delaminated from the polymer structures at 200 °C, 100 bar for 30 min in a high-pressure reactor and ground in a planetary ball mill, where the experimental conditions were optimized for energy consumption using a Box-Behnken design. Hydrothermal subcritical delamination process provides structural changes in the polymer layers due to swelling of the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and hardening of the backsheet. The energy consumption measured at the laboratory scale corresponds to the optimum response value of 0.132 kWh, demonstrating the effectiveness of the study under short-term and stable conditions. The c-Si wafer analyzed using techniques such as EDXRF, XRD, TGA, FTIR, and SEM/EDS. 87.5% Si, 1.95% aluminum, 1.12% silver, and 1.23% other metals were recovered from the solar cell. However, an oxidation rate of 6.71% by mass was detected in the c-Si wafer. The recovery rate of valuable minerals by ignoring oxidation is 98.4% of the total mass. Keywords: Critical minerals, PV recycling, Subcritical water, Optimization, Sustainability
Beyond the Surface: Environmental Depth of Photovoltaic Recycling Methods
53rd American Solar Energy Society National Solar Conference 2024 (SOLAR 2024) Asli Birturk, Betul Aksoy, Melih Soner Celiktas ABSTRACT This study delved into the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) literature review findings regarding photovoltaic (PV) recycling methodologies. LCAs' boundaries significantly influence environmental impact categories such as functional units, electricity consumption, material flows. Regardless of system scale functional unit values of literature studies are given to compare different system boundaries. This paper highlights PV module types and LCA tools, noting thermal methods in both c-Si and CdTe PV technologies yield lower environmental impacts than chemical and mechanical approaches. Additionally, a delamination process was conducted and LCA results were analyzed at the laboratory scale using hexane. The delamination success is 99%. Notably, recycling significantly diminishes environmental footprints compared to landfilling, with a fraction of Global Warming Potential (GWP) values. Keywords: Global Warming Potential (GWP), photovoltaic recycling, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental Impact, sustainability
Ongoing Waste Issue Towards the Development of Photovoltaic Module Recycling Regulations
2023 7th International Conference on Renewable Energy and Environment (ICREE 2023) Asli Birturk, Melih Soner Celiktas Abstract In this paper, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, that play an essential role in reducing fossil energy resources, are considered from a sustainability perspective. Solar PV systems, accounting for a significant capacity share among renewable energy sources, will have environmental and economic repercussions in the future. Despite photovoltaic (PV) modules contributing to the production of renewable energy for an average of 25 to 30 years, they pose a threat to the global environment. Policies should support the significance of initiatives. This will ensure that PV manufacturers, users, governments, and R&D researchers assume responsibility for PV module waste, which is expected to be encountered more frequently and rapidly in the near future. Prioritizing global awareness and policy development in the field of solar PV recycling will inspire future work. Furthermore, the prospect of other solar PV technologies consolidating their market position in the future will necessitate a solar PV recycling industry. This industry should encompass all developing PV technologies. Key words: energy policy / energy resources / clean energy / PV recycling
Chapter 30 - The effect of thermal treatments on photovoltaic module recycling
Handbook of Thermal Management Systems E-Mobility and Other Energy Applications 2023, Pages 659-671 Asli Birturk, Tugba Keskin Gundogdu, Melih Soner Celiktas Abstract PV panels will eventually become waste due to their limited lifetime of 25–30 years. This situation has been effective in the prominence of recycling research in recent years. In addition, loss in earlier stages due to failures and defects in PV systems has accelerated the recycling studies against the waste generation. Polymer layers in thin film and crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV panels cause challenges in recycling processes. Since it degrades the polymer structure in various processes, thermal treatment applications have become common in both traditional and innovative methods for PV recycling. Therefore, thermal treatments have an important place in the recycling field. In this chapter general information about photovoltaic cells and the effect of thermal treatments is given. Thermal treatment is an issue that needs to be investigated in terms of the future of solar PV recycling. In this direction, it is aimed to be strategically prepared for future developments, critical mineral requirements, and environmental problems to gain an instructive perspective on end-of-life management of solar PV panels.
The Icarus Syndrome in the Sustainability of Photovoltaic Modules
Mühendis ve Makina Asli Birturk, Melih Soner Celiktas Abstract In this study, photovoltaic (PV) systems, which have a key role in reducing the consumption of fossil-based energy resources, are analyzed within the scope of sustainability. PV systems, which have an important share among renewable energy sources, will cause environmental and economic consequences at the end of their economic life. While PV modules contribute to clean energy production for an average lifetime of 25-30 years, they also contain potential dangers for our world. Producers, consumers, governments, and researchers related to PV module wastes, which will be encountered more intensively in the near future, should take responsibility more quickly and initiatives on this issue should be supported by policies. In this study, the PV system installed capacity and the amount of PV module waste that will be generated in Turkey until 2050 are evaluated in ten-year periods. Monthly and annual increases are considered separately for the installed capacity estimates and compared with the data published by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR). Waste potential estimates are considered as end-of-economic life and early waste. The total waste potential is evaluated according to future projections published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The results show that the PV installed capacity estimates are close to the ETKB estimates, and the waste potential will be approximately three times the size of the projections prepared by IEA and IRENA for Turkey. Accordingly, PV module waste potential is estimated to reach 1 million 706 thousand 159 tons in 2050.