Zhang Liwen, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and an expert at China Resources (Group) Co., Ltd., emphasized the importance of enhancing waste recycling as a key strategy for simultaneously advancing carbon reduction, pollution control, greening initiatives, and economic growth.
“In the coming years, a significant number of photovoltaic (PV) devices will reach their retirement peak, making the issue of safe disposal and resource utilization of discarded PV modules increasingly prominent,” Zhang noted. He pointed out that there is a surge in demand for technological upgrades in the PV market. However, due to the lack of authoritative standards for module disposal and the absence of specific management measures, businesses find themselves in a predicament characterized by “wanting to replace but feeling unable to” and “wishing to collect but not daring to,” leading to a situation of “blind dismantling and collection” within the industry.
Zhang suggested that it is essential to accelerate the development of guidelines for the recycling of PV modules and the assessment of their remaining lifespan, clearly defining the responsibilities of those involved in the evaluations. He proposed the establishment of a tiered system for module disposal and integrating lifespan assessments into the prerequisites for subsidies related to technological upgrades of power plants. Furthermore, he recommended collaborating with industry experts, research institutions, and enterprises to formulate authoritative technical standards for assessing remaining lifespan, thereby enhancing the credibility of evaluation results. To prevent resource waste and market confusion, he urged the designation of a leading department to oversee the integration, optimization, and management of these standards.
Additionally, Zhang proposed leveraging national major projects and technology initiatives, such as the “Challenge-Driven Innovation” program, to encourage companies and research institutions to develop technologies for assessing the remaining lifespan of PV components. By utilizing artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things, a predictive model for component lifespan could be created. He also emphasized the need to establish a database for assessing the remaining lifespan of PV modules, utilizing existing carbon footprint data platforms to document testing data and performance metrics of various modules, thereby facilitating the predictability and traceability of the remaining lifespan of PV components regionally.
(Source: Economic Daily)
