This review examines the life cycle of photovoltaic plants, highlighting sustainability challenges and emerging technologies.
This review explores the life cycle of photovoltaic (PV) plants, focusing on the environmental, economic, and technical aspects from installation to decommissioning. The study examines the various stages involved, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, installation, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life management of PV systems. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the energy payback time, carbon footprint, and the recyclability of key components. Additionally, the paper highlights current challenges in improving the sustainability of PV plants and offers insights into emerging technologies and practices aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This review emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to the life cycle management of PV plants to ensure the long-term viability of solar energy as a key contributor to the green transition.
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Borisov et al. (2025) studied this question.
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