Comparative life cycle assessment of multiple recycling processes for end-of-life thin-film photovoltaics in China

Recycling thin-film photovoltaic (PV) wastes can enhance the ecological environment and conserve resources. However, comprehensive assessments of the environmental-economic tradeoffs in recycling thin-film PV technologies remain scarce in China. This study compares the resource use, environmental impact, and economic cost among five recycling processes of thin-film PV technologies using life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC). The results show that all recycling processes have less harmful environmental impacts than direct landfill. Acid leaching (CIA) for copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) has the best environmental and economic performance among all recycling processes. It achieves the lowest global warming potential (135.35 kg CO₂ eq), the most significant life-cycle energy savings (−10,535.77 MJ), the least water use (−78,553.01 kg), and the only positive economic benefit (518 CNY/ton). Most recycling treatments of thin-film PV waste are expensive currently. Employing appropriate measures such as improving technologies, expanding recycling scale, optimizing transportation distance, and providing subsidies can promote the sustainable development of waste thin-film PV recycling. This research pioneers an LCA-LCC framework tailored to China's context, covering all mainstream thin-film PV recycling technologies. The findings would provide actionable insights for governments to formulate localized recycling policies and for enterprises to select cost-effective, eco-friendly technologies.