ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of using a state-of-the art methodology for life-cycle analysis and assessment to multi-crystalline and amorphous silicon solar cells, including direct and indirect impacts from mining to recycling of decommissioned cells, for current technologies as well as for projected future ones. Different types of solar panels differ with respect to use of substrates, glass cover material and/or films. Decommissioning and dismantling of the solar equipment is expected to follow recycling and reuse patterns emerging for the building industry in general, probably as a front-runner industry. In some areas, cleaning of solar panel surfaces for dust may be required, and electronic control equipment such as inverters may cause radio-frequency disturbances, if not properly shielded. For a variable resource such as solar energy, there will be additional costs if the penetration becomes large compared with the size of the grid system, because in that case additional equipment must be introduced to deal with the fluctuating power production.
