Increasing the Ecological Efficiency of Monocrystalline Photovoltaic Power Plants by Management Their Life Cycle Assessment

This study’s objectives were to evaluate the life cycle of a 2 MW solar power plant in northern Poland and provide suggestions for enhancing this kind of installation’s environmental performance. Eight years of operating data were examined under the assumption that 2000 MWh of energy was produced annually on average. The evaluation took into account two waste management scenarios—landfill and recycling—and was carried out in accordance with the ReCiPe 2016 methodology. Human health and water resource usage had the most environmental effects (7.08 × 105 Pt—landfill), but recycling greatly reduced these effects (−3.08 × 105 Pt). Terrestrial ecosystems were negatively impacted by the turbines’ water consumption (8.94 × 105 Pt—landfill), which was lessened in the recycling scenario. The water and soil environment was greatly impacted by released pollutants, such as zinc and chlorinated hydrocarbons, whose emissions were greatly decreased by material recovery. Particularly detrimental was sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is the cause of PM 2.5 particle matter, which is dangerous to the public’s health. Recycling has helped to lower these pollutants and enhance the quality of the air. Reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions can help reduce CO2 emissions, which were the most significant factor in the context of climate change (1.91 × 104 Pt—landfilling). Recycling lessened these impacts and decreased the need to acquire virgin raw materials, but landfilling was linked to soil acidification and the depletion of mineral resources. According to the findings, even “green” technology, like photovoltaics, can have detrimental effects on the environment if they are not properly handled at the end of their useful lives. Recycling is turning out to be a crucial instrument for lowering negative effects on the environment, increasing resource efficiency, and safeguarding public health.