Periodic module rejuvenation provides early market entry for circular all-perovskite tandem photovoltaic technologies

Abstract

Emerging tandem photovoltaics (PVs) show cell power conversion efficiencies beyond incumbent PV systems but do not yet match their multi-decade lifetimes, impeding widespread deployment. Here we propose periodic module recycling as a strategy to resolve resource scarcity associated with halide perovskite tandem PV and relax initial stability requirements, thus accelerating their commercialization. By way of example, we fabricate high-performance all-perovskite tandems and experimentally show that indium tin oxide-coated substrates can be re-used multiple times without significant device performance loss. We show that for all-perovskite tandems with degradation rates as high as 10% per year, periodic module recycling gives reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission factor and ameliorates energy return on investment (EROI). Our analytical findings provide quantitative and rigorous guidance on how to implement recycling in practice. Our results inform the optimal recycling frequency and the possibility of outcompeting the benchmark silicon PV in each phase of materials development over the commercialization trajectory of perovskite tandems. Being recycled every 10 years with 10% per year degradation results in a GHG emission factor of 4.64 g CO₂-eq/MJ, lower than that of silicon PV (4.73 g CO₂-eq/MJ). As the all-perovskite tandem develops toward a lower degradation rate of 7% per year, periodic module recycling every 10 years results in EROI of 15.0, already outcompeting the silicon single-junction benchmark (14.8). Periodic module rejuvenation provides early market entry for all-perovskite tandems to outcompete silicon PVs on key sustainability metrics, while this same strategy is not viable for perovskite–silicon tandems for the current module efficiencies unless a degradation rate lower than 1.4% per year can be achieved from the outset. Our findings of module rejuvenation are economically viable as supported by levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) calculations with sensitivity analyses. This work unveils new strategies to bring online next-generation sustainable PV technologies earlier that can meaningfully contribute to decarbonization goals.