EU PVSEC 2016, Parallel Event – End‐of‐Life Management – Photovoltaic Panels
Andreas Wade, Global Sustainability Director
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc.
First Solar at a Glance
Over 10GW installed worldwide and over 3GW contracted pipeline
Cost competitive with conventional energy sources today
Partner of choice for leading utilities and global power buyers
Strongest financial stability & bankability in the industry
1st Global PV Module Recycling Program in the Industry © Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. Driving innovation across entire value chain and plant solution
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First Solar is the Leading Choice in Eco-Efficient Energy Solutions
Superior Energy
Yield
Providing the leading eco‐efficient PV technology
• Higher energy yields at a competitive cost
• Lowest externalities and energy pricing on a total cost basis
Cost
Competitive
• Smallest carbon footprint and air pollutants
Lowest
Environmental
Impact
• Fastest energy payback time < 1 year
• Industry leading PV recycling program
Creating more value with less environmental impact per kWh generated.
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. • Lowest life cycle water use 3
First Solar is Committed to Environmental Stewardship
• Providing value‐driven energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment
• Committed to responsible product life cycle and end‐of‐life management
• Ensuring solutions to clean energy do not pose a burden on future generations
• Leading the industry with proven recycling solutions © Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. • Fulfilling solar’s promise as a clean and sustainable renewable source of energy
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Why Does High-Value PV Recycling Matter?
Crucial to managing large future PV waste volumes
Global Cumulative PV Capacity
— Over 177 GW PV installed worldwide
200
177
Recycling is important for all PV technologies — Minimizes life cycle impacts — Reclaims valuable and energy intensive materials
70
40
50
— Creates jobs and economic benefits
— Inclusion of PV in the EU WEEE Directive is expected to yield ~ 16.5 billion EUR in 2050
100
100
3,7
5,1
7
9
16
23
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Recycling maximizes resource recovery and increases the sustainability of PV.
REN21, Renewables Global Status Report, 2014
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. Provides socio‐economic and environmental benefits
139
150
Gigawatts
— Environmentally sensitive materials are common in the industry (Pb, Cd, In, Se, Ag…)
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First Solar’s Long-Standing Leadership and Commitment to Recycling
• Established 1st global and comprehensive module recycling program in the PV industry in 2005
• Recycling facilities are operational in Germany, Malaysia, and the USA
— Total annual recycling capacity of ~26,000 MT
• Continuously improving processes and technology and reducing operational costs First Solar is the industry leader in responsible
module end-of-life management.
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. — Scalable to accommodate future high volumes
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First Solar Product Development Approach
Strive for continuous improvement of our technologies while ensuring recyclability
— Recyclability is fully integrated in module design
— Product development budget allocates funds for recycling process upgrades
— Technology improvement projects are tracked through Change Management System (CMS)
— Module improvement projects require timely implementation of recycling process upgrades
Ensuring the recyclability of our products is integral to our R&D process.
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. •
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First Solar’s Module Recycling Process
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. + 90% Recycling of semiconductor material
~ 90% Recycling of glass
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First Solar‘s Recycling Technology Evolution
V2 Recycling (2011)
V3 Recycling (2015)
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Batch Leaching at room temp
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Batch Leaching at room temp
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Continuous leaching at high temperature
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Rotary Leaching Reactor
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Stationary Leaching Reactor
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Monorail Roller Coaster Reactor
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Volume output: 10 tons/day
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Volume output: 30 tons/day
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Volume output: 150 tons/day
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Plant size at 350 tpd > 30k m²
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Plant size at 350 tpd = 30k m²
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Plant size at 350 tpd < 4k m²
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. V1 Recycling (2005)
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Continuously Driving Down Costs for Sustainable PV Recycling
First Solar Recycling Normalized Cost Trend Recycling Process Normalized Cost
V1
V2
Recycling Production (MT/Wk)
V3
V 4
V‐ Mobile
1600
1,00
1200
1000
0,60
800
0,40
600
400
0,20
200
0,00
2007
0
2012
2017
2022
Year
2027
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. 0,80
Recycling Production Volume (MT/Wk)
Normalized Recycling Cost ($/Module)
1400
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Benefits of First Solar’s Recycling Program
— Environmentally Responsible
— Minimizes life cycle impacts and reduces the carbon footprint and energy payback time of PV modules
— Maximizes resource recovery: over 90% of semiconductor material and 90% of glass Commercially attractive — Renewable pricing adjusts RSA price as recycling costs decrease
— Globally Available
— Convenient way of helping you meet various regulatory and permitting requirements First Solar is the single source for all your PV power plant needs.
© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc. — No up‐front fees: modules can be recycled using later year project cash flows
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© Copyright 2013, First Solar, Inc.
Creating enduring value by enabling a world powered by clean, affordable solar electricity.
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