National standard for the service life of photovoltaic panels

How accurate is public data on photovoltaic (PV) module degradation?

High-accuracy public data on photovoltaic (PV) module degradation from the Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Test Centers will increase the accuracy and precision of degradation profiles calculated for representative PV hardware installed in the U.S.

Why do we need reliable service lifetime prediction of PV modules & components?

For example, reliable service lifetime predictions aid: PV module and components manu-facturers to provide more realistic warranties, PV project investors to make good financial decisions, and consumers to increase their trust in PV energy. More reliable service lifetime prediction of PV modules and components is still quite a challenge.

Can end-of-life PV panels be recycled?

Voluntary collection and recycling of end-of-life PV panels has been provided by several PV industry stakeholders. For example, the company First Solar operates a commercial-scale recycling facility with a daily capacity of 30 t in Ohio for its own CdTe products (Raju, 2013).

Does India have a waste regulation for end-of-life PV panels?

Although India currently has no specific PV-related waste regulation, increasing growth rates will most likely lead to waste regulations for end-of-life PV panels in the future. Opportunities for value creation exist in each segment of the PV value chain, including the end-of-life stage.

Are service lifetime and degradation models suitable for PV modules?

The latest scientific work shows that service lifetime and degradation models for PV modules are of specific use if they combine different modelling approaches and include know-how and modelling parameters of the most relevant degradation effects.

What are the non-regulatory initiatives for end-of-life PV panels?

Prior to the implementation of the revised ElektroG in Germany, there were a number of non-regulatory initiatives which organised the collection and recycling of end-of-life PV panels. They were mainly based on voluntary producer initiatives (e.g. PV CYCLE).