Research 466: Forecasting WEEE Arising for Electric Vehicle Batteries and Photovoltaic Panels [Video]

Globally, energy systems are undergoing two simultaneous and radical transformations that present a new set of challenges in sustainable waste management: the electrification of the transportation network and the decarbonisation of the electricity grid.

In this week’s research report the authors identified challenges and modelled scenarios for the sustainable management of LongWEEE (i.e. longer lifetime electrical devices) with a specific focus on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicle batteries. The research projects the quantity of WEEE generated from both sectors out to 2050 and estimates the related cost of recycling with the purpose of helping plan for financially sound and sustainable WEEE management into the future.