Overview

  • Exempt for PV-modules
  • no regulation on module waste
  • no obligation for user to return modules
  • no obligation for producer to take back modules

1. Module Power:

  • 22 GW total installations in Germany
  • 27 GW world wide production 2010

2. Integrated Module Waste:

  • 60 GW integrated production
  • 2 600 000 t integrated module waste

3. Toxic Materials:

  • c-Si modules >1000 t Pb
  • CdTe modules ≈ 560 t CdTe

4. Leaching Studies (from literature):
Cd and Pb leach out at rain water conditions.

1. Market Numbers

Installed PV-Power in Germany

World Production: PV-Modules

World Production: PV-Modules

2. Waste

Distributed Modules

Expected Waste of PV-Modules

3. Toxic Materials

Crystalline Silicon

CdS/CdTe

CdS/CIGS

WEEE and RoHS

WEEE = „Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment“ Directive (2002/96/EG)

  • Exempt for PV-modules
  • no regulation on module waste
  • no obligation for user to return modules
  • no obligation for producer to take back modules
RoHS = „Restriction of Hazardous Substances“ Directive (2002/95/EG)
  • Exempt for PV-modules
  • RoHS-limits:
  • 0.1 % for Pb
    36 Pb in solder on Cu-ribbons of c-Si modules!!
  • 0.01 % for Cd
    50 % Cd in CdTe and CdS!!

Produced Pollutants

4. Leaching Studies

Leaching Data from Literature

Leaching in Water Solutions

Conclusions

1. PV-ModulesexemptfromWEEEandRoHS in Europe.

2. Toxicmaterialsdistributedoverlargeareas:
c-Si modules > 1000 t Pb
CdTe modules ≈ 560 t CdTe

3. CdandPbleachoutfrommodulepiecesat close to rain water conditions.

4. AvoidCdandPb,makePVreally green
J. H. Werner, R. Zapf-Gottwick, L. Hamann
Institute for Photovoltaics
M. Koch and K. Fischer
Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality, and Solid Waste Management
University of Stuttgart, November 30, 2011

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