Piyal Chowdhury, Hemal Chowdhury, Tamal Chowdhury, Richard Corkish
The global deployment of photovoltaic (PV) systems is expanding rapidly as nations pursue low carbon energy transitions. This growth, however, is accompanied by increasing pressure on critical materials, including aluminium and low iron silica sand, which are essential for PV module manufacturing. Both materials face supply challenges and contribute significantly to environmental impacts during extraction and processing. End-of-life PV modules present an opportunity for circular resource use, yet remanufacturing is currently hindered by technological limitations, contamination risks, and heterogeneity in module design. In this study, we argue that standardization of PV modules, especially in terms of physical dimensions, can be a key enabler of scalable and effective recycling, remanufacturing, and reuse. A conceptual framework is presented that links physical standardization with suitable recovery technologies and supportive policy mechanisms such as Extended Producer Responsibility. A comparative analysis highlights the energy and material recovery advantages of the standardized approach over current practices. Together, these insights highlight that PV module standardization is not only feasible but also essential for achieving a circular economy in the PV sector.