Waste Assessment of 1.275 MWP PV Plant: Case of Northern Cyprus
Abstract
PV technologies gained significant importance during the last 2 decades by providing clean and renewable electricity. However, PV panels complete their operational life in 25-30 years and transform into hazardous waste for both human health and environment. Management of PV Waste is an important environmental issue which requires a detailed inventory of the PV Waste. In this study, the PV Waste inventory of 1.275 MWP PV Plant installed in Serhatköy Region of Northern Cyprus, on May 2011, is investigated. Results showed that, this plant will complete its operational lifetime in 13-18 years and generate the first bulk PV Waste in Northern Cyprus. Inventory analysis of the Serhatköy PV Plant revealed that 63476 kg of glass,16807 kg of aluminum, 9230 kg of steel, 6640 kg of EVA, 807 kg of silicon, and 746 kg of copper can be recycled and recovered. Also, this study revealed that Northern Cyprus can catch the PV Waste Management targets of the European Union with a down-cycling PV Waste Strategy.
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References
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