Analysing economic feasibility of recycling end-of-life solar photovoltaic modules of Bangladesh

With the rapid development of solar energy, the impact of waste solar photovoltaic modules on the environment and resources has been increasingly realised. Bangladesh is projected to install as high as 30 GW solar photovoltaic modules by 2041 from the present state of approximately 1 GW. Large volumes of photovoltaic modules from the present and future solar PV installations will become a critical environmental and resource loss issue once they reach end-of-life after 20–30 years of installations. Recycling end-of-life modules reduces environmental and people health damage and would offer economic benefits from the recovered valuable materials. This study has estimated total 196,250 metric tonne end-of-life solar photovoltaic waste between 2025 and 2041 from the installed and projected capacity till 2025 in Bangladesh. Then, by conducting economic feasibility analysis, it has also revealed that recycling the waste modules through a dedicated recycling plant using full recovery of end-of-life photovoltaic method is feasible with a positive net present value, greater internal rate of return (13%) than discount rate (8%) and a profitability index more than 1. A long discounted payback time (18 years) can be reduced through tax and value added tax exemption, allocating free government land for the plant site and above all supplying the plant with required volume of waste modules by turning it as a regional hub for recycling. Anticipating future environmental challenges and considering national realities, this study has offered a prudent and sustainable end-of-life module recycling model which would open a new window for the national economy as well. Appropriate domestic policy guideline is required in this respect. Graphical abstract Illustration of material recovery and revenue generation from recycling of end-of-life solar photovoltaic modules and its economic feasibility analysis