Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are examining how to scale, deploy, and design future perovskite solar panels to be easily recyclable.
The potential of perovskite solar panels to play a significant role in global decarbonization efforts prompts an early focus on design for sustainability, according to Joey Luther, a senior research fellow at NREL. “When you have a technology in its very early stages, you have the ability to design it better. It’s a cleaner slate,” said Luther. “Pushing perovskite PV toward enhanced sustainability makes more sense at this stage. We’re thinking about how we can make sure we have a sustainable product now rather than dealing with sustainability issues toward the end of its practical life.”
Highlighting the PV community’s influential position, the researchers advocate for prioritizing efforts in remanufacturing, recycling, and reliability to ensure perovskite PV becomes a highly sustainable energy source. “Perovskites could unlock the next evolution of high-efficiency PV, and it is our responsibility to assure they are manufactured, used, and recycled sustainably,” said Kevin Prince, lead author of the study, formerly at NREL and currently researching at Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin.
Current dominant solar technologies, such as silicon and cadmium telluride, have environmental and climate benefits but were not designed with circularity in mind. In contrast, perovskite technology offers a chance to address sustainability concerns early on.
Researchers identified key sustainability considerations, including the reduction of lead by incorporating other metals like tin, although such substitutions could affect efficiency and durability. They also suggest replacing precious metals like silver and gold in research cells with more affordable alternatives like aluminum, copper, or nickel for commercial use. Additionally, they recommend using fluorine-tin oxide for front electrodes instead of the scarcer indium-tin oxide.
“We want to have the lowest amount of embodied energy in the fabrication,” Luther said. “We want to have the lowest amount of emissions in the fabrication. At this stage, now is the chance to look at those components.”
The study also emphasizes the importance of establishing recycling pathways for specialized glass used in perovskite modules, as current glass manufacturing is energy-intensive. Coauthor Silvana Ovaitt noted the benefits of local manufacturing to reduce carbon impacts from transportation.
The researchers conclude that enhancing PV module durability, thus extending their useful lifetime, is a more effective strategy for reducing net energy, energy payback, and carbon emissions than focusing solely on circularity. “Ultimately, we want to make them as durable as possible,” Luther said, while also considering end-of-life management.
The study’s coauthors from NREL include Heather Mirletz, E. Ashley Gaulding, Lance Wheeler, Ross Kerner, Xiaopeng Zheng, Laura Schelhas, Paul Tracy, Colin Wolden, Joseph Berry, and Teresa Barnes. The DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office funded the research.