WHAT IS THE END-OF-LIFE SOLUTION FOR SOLAR AND WIND POWER SYSTEMS?
According to experts, with the proportion of renewable energy sources (solar power, wind power) growing strongly in the future, the problem is that Vietnam needs to accelerate the development of guidelines for management and classification of renewable energy sources. obvious waste in management, waste treatment from photovoltaic panels and wind turbines; Strengthening solutions for effective end-of-life treatment of solar and wind power systems in Vietnam.
This should be considered a resource
Sharing at the Workshop on research results “End-life solutions of solar and wind power systems in Vietnam” on the afternoon of December 13 by the Institute of Energy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the United Nations Development Program (UNDS). UNDP) cooperated to implement, Ms. Hoang Anh, representative of the research team of the Institute of Energy, said that over the past time, thanks to encouraging policies, solar power in Vietnam has grown exponentially. Specifically, by the end of 2020, the total capacity will reach 16,640 GW. Rooftop solar power capacity 7,780 MW.
According to Ms. Hoang Anh, currently solar power plants and rooftop solar power systems are under development and most of the new systems have been operated for about 3 years. 28 million solar photovoltaic panels are installed at power plants. 17.5 – 23.5 million photovoltaic panels in rooftop solar power system (capacity of 7.7 GW). Most of the solar power plants are still within the warranty period.
It is forecasted that solar power will have a strong growth thanks to the Government’s policies and the market economy. According to the draft Power Plan VIII, the installed capacity of solar power will increase from 16.6 GW to 20.1 GW in 2021 – 2030 and 71.9 GW in 2045 under the high scenario. With a photovoltaic panel with a capacity of 330 – 440W, it will reach 50.9 – 62.1 million photovoltaic panels in 2030 and up to 150 – 220 million photovoltaic panels in 2045.
“Thus, according to calculations from an internationally recognized method, by 2050, the cumulative waste of photovoltaic panels is estimated at 3,110 million tons in the early loss scenario and 3,468 million tons in the scenario. normal losses,” said Ms. Hoang Anh.
Accordingly, Ms. Hoang Anh said that from the current challenging research, in raising the issue of expired photovoltaic panels being considered hazardous waste if the components contain hazardous materials. are not properly removed and disposed of. We need to change the perception, and see this as a recycled resource in the circular economy. And especially, it is necessary to raise awareness about the correct method of disposal.
“Currently, the majority of photovoltaic panels fail, are kept by factories with other electrical waste or handed over to licensed waste management units for disposal as hazardous waste. Sometimes faulty or damaged photovoltaic panels from rooftop solar systems are used for other purposes such as fencing, barn roofs, or sold to informal waste collectors. ” Ms. Hoang Anh said.
Therefore, Ms. Hoang Anh emphasized, if the informal management of solar panels is not stopped, social problems will arise in the establishment of a formal waste management process when the amount of solar PV the shelf life has increased significantly.
Share more MSc. Truong Viet Truong – representative of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment said: In fact, photovoltaic panels and wind turbines at the end of their life cycle contain valuable materials (glass, steel, aluminum, copper, silica, etc.) rare metals…) whose recycling and reuse allows significant resource savings. However, in Circular 36/2015/TT-Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, discarded photovoltaic panels are considered hazardous waste unless the components containing hazardous materials are not removed and treated. properly reason.
Mr. Truong pointed out that current management practices in the world, such as SolarTech (USA), do not include solar cells in the control of hazardous waste. The EU stipulates that the recycling/reuse rate of solar panels is 85%/80%. The US currently has no regulations on the management of expired photovoltaic panels. Similarly, Japan does not have specific regulations on the handling of expired photovoltaic panels. And no developed country currently considers solar panels as hazardous waste.
According to Truong, most photovoltaic panels have a lifespan of about 25 years. The first project was inaugurated in 2019. Thus, the photovoltaic panels will expire in the 2040s. “From now to 2040 is a long enough time for the ministries, sectors and stakeholders to study. , develop appropriate management and technical solutions for expired solar photovoltaic panels that must be disposed of,” stressed Mr. Truong.
Recycling is also considered an important solution
Experts also said that although there are clear regulations on waste management of solar power and wind power, including regulations on the responsibility of solar and wind power investors and responsibility for recovery, , dispose of waste products from manufacturers. However, there are still many “holes” in the plan to build solar and wind power in Vietnam such as the specific legal framework in solid and hazardous waste management, the legal basis for The classification of waste from solar power and wind power is not yet available. In addition, the collection and treatment of solar and wind power waste is still rudimentary, requiring a synchronous and modern process. And especially, Vietnam has no technology to treat and recycle waste from these types, which is still in its infancy.
Sharing an overview of international experience, Ms. Deepali Sinha, an international expert, said that the solution to manage the expired solar photovoltaic panels should first be implemented from mitigation/preventive solutions such as technology development. to reduce size and weight per KW of generating capacity – major solar producers. Reuse and upgrade modules to extend functional life. Besides, recycling is also considered an important solution.
Regarding the solution to manage wind turbine blades at the end of the life cycle, it is necessary to innovate in material composition and reuse; Using propellers for other construction purposes (e.g. bus stops, light-weight bridges…), recycling technology to recycle composite materials from propellers is still under development…
However, this expert also pointed out, currently, barriers in managing expired solar photovoltaic panels and wind power still exist many challenges not only in Vietnam but also in the world. Such as the lack of regulation on financial mechanism for the collection, transportation and treatment of waste. The e-waste recycling industry is in its infancy. In addition, whether photovoltaic panels and wind turbine blades should be classified as hazardous waste remains unclear. Processing technology is in the formative stage.
Accordingly, Deepali Sinha recommended, Vietnam needs to accelerate the development of guidelines for waste management and classification; Establish a registration system for licensed waste treatment facilities; Strengthening the official collection and treatment of end-of-life waste of solar and wind power; Minimize landfilling and burning of waste; Strengthening technical regulations for recycling and recovery; Formulate and implement legal documents; Establish a financing mechanism through extended producer liability.
Mr. Doan Ngoc Duong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy emphasized, Vietnam is gradually increasing the proportion of wind energy and solar power in the future, this will be the premise and basis for domestic researchers to edit. receive and complete relevant content. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has always identified and recognized the treatment of waste from solar and wind power as one of the important issues, especially in the reuse and utilization of resources. This is just the first step, and from the research results, will propose solutions, roadmap as well as policy suggestions to be ready in the near future.