A Review of Photovoltaic Waste Management: Environmental Challenges and Sustainability Pathways

ABSTRACT

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has been a cornerstone of global energy innovation, with more than 1.6 Terawatts (TW) of capacity installed by 2023 and an expected 4.5 TW by 2050. Nevertheless, this rapid growth brings challenges, particularly in handling the End‐of‐life (EoL) waste stream, which is anticipated to exceed 70 million tons by mid‐century due to declining installation costs and technological advancements. PV modules contain precious and hazardous substances, such as silicon, silver, copper, and aluminum, whose disposal has an environmental impact; however, these materials can be recovered from them. Conventional processes, such as mechanical shredding, thermal pyrolysis, and chemical dissolution, are technically possible, but they have environmental problems related to energy consumption, toxic emissions, and the generation of secondary residues. Up to now, new green ideas, such as ultrasound‐ induced swelling of limonene for Ethylene vinyl Acetate (EVA) removal or enzymatic delamination with lipase or lecithinase in sunflower oil, are being introduced among the more “in green” alternatives. The process of recovering metals and glass, as well as utilizing silicon from waste materials, facilitates the creation of green building products that contribute to a closed loop economy aligned with a climate‐resilient approach. Despite advances, studies tend to be scattered or concentrated on specific technologies and government regulations. This review addresses these gaps by discussing the growing installation capacity of PV panels from 2023 to 2025, comparing conventional technologies with advanced techniques, evaluating life‐ cycle costs and ecological impacts, and investigating legal policies and regulations worldwide. It highlights the value of recycling as part of a closed loop economy, thereby strengthening sustainability and solar energy as an alternative for climate protection.