| Abstrakt: |
Photovoltaic modules, inverters and mounting hardware are getting deinstalled as systems age, owners seek to upgrade to more efficient use of rooftop space, buildings undergo major remodeling and other factors. Recycling of modules and other components to recover valued raw materials currently lacks economic processes with the capacity to responsibly deal with the volume of equipment being taken offline. Sending inverters to overseas electronic recycling locations and the modules and mounting systems to landfills has become a default path for many. While incentives for middle- and upper-income buyers have been instrumental in driving lower system costs over the past decades, low- and moderate-income (LMI) households who are most burdened with energy costs have been excluded from this green revolution. Much of this decommissioned equipment still retains many years of energy generation potential and reinstalling these systems to benefit previously excluded populations presents significant opportunity to fill the social equity gap in the triple bottom line of solar energy while delaying ecological impacts until recycling processes can be developed to meet economic and throughput requirements for a sustainable business model. This paper presents the framework for foundational research of the multiple facets of culture, social equity, ecology, policy, technology and sustainable business to create a movement that repurposes high-value equipment away from waste streams and towards a more equitable society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
