Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment

Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment

An Overview of Current State of Reuse and Recycling of Degraded Solar Modules: A Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Muhammad Amir Aziat Ishak 1, 2
Muhammad Aqil Afham Rahmat 1
Sahibzada Imad Ud Din 1
Adnan Ibrahim 1
1 Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, P. O. Box: 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
2 School of Engineering, Faculty of Innovation & Technology, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
10.30501/jree.2026.512953.2308
Abstract
As the need for renewable energy increases, the demand for photovoltaic (PV) modules has shown an upward trend. As a consequence of this growth, the number of degraded PV modules is expected to rise in the coming years due to End-of-Life (EoL) processes. When PV modules degrade, their efficiency decreases and they eventually become unreliable. Hence, a possible alternative is their replacement. The increasing quantity of EoL PV modules is a matter of concern, as it may adversely affect the environment. An effective strategy for the reuse and recycling of PV modules should be developed to address the forthcoming challenges associated with their disposal. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current state of PV recycling and EoL PV module policies. The factors contributing to PV module degradation and the elements that can potentially be recovered from EoL PV modules are also highlighted. As a result of the review, it is observed that no specific policies have been established to address EoL PV modules. The current technologies for managing EoL PV modules should be enhanced to establish effective methods for the reuse and recycling of PV modules.

Graphical Abstract

An Overview of Current State of Reuse and Recycling of Degraded Solar Modules: A Review
Keywords
Reusing
Recycling
Degraded
Solar Module
E-Waste
End-of-Life (EoL)

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 17 March 2025
  • Revise Date 08 November 2025
  • Accept Date 30 December 2025