Challenges in assessment of clean energy supply-chains based on byproduct minerals: A case study of tellurium use in thin film photovoltaics

Applied Energy

Volumn 123, Issue , 2014, Pages 397-414

  Bustamante, Michele L ^a   Gaustad, Gabrielle ^a  

^a ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY   (United States)

Author keywords

Byproduct mining; Criticality; Energy security; Tellurium; Thin film photovoltaics

Indexed keywords

CHAINS; CRITICALITY (NUCLEAR FISSION); ECONOMICS; ENERGY RESOURCES; ENERGY SECURITY; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; RECYCLING; RESEARCH; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS;

CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY; CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES; LIFE CYCLE STAGES; PRICE VOLATILITY; SUPPLY AND DEMAND; SUPPLY-CHAIN DISRUPTIONS; SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUPPLY; THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS;

TELLURIUM;

ENERGY RESOURCE; ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM; RECYCLING; RENEWABLE RESOURCE; RISK ASSESSMENT; SUSTAINABILITY; TELLURIUM;

EID: 84899102102     PISSN: 03062619     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.01.065     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. IPCC. Climate change 2007: Mitigation. In: Metz B, Davidson OR, Bosch PR, Dave R, Meyer LA. editors, contribution of working group III to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA; 2007.
2. Strevel N., Trippel L., Gloeckler M. Performance characterization and superior energy yield of first solar PV power plants in high-temperature conditions. Photovoltaics Int 2012, 17(3):148-154.
3. APS & MRS. Report: Energy critical elements: Securing materials for emerging technologies; 2011.
4. Moss RL, Tzimas E, Kara H, Kooroshy J. Critical metals in strategic energy technologies: European commission joint research centre, Institute for Energy and Transport; 2001.
5. Buchert M, Schuler D, Bleher D. Critical metals for future sustainable technologies and their recycling potential: UNEP, 2009.
6. Talens Peiro L, Villalba Mendez G, Ayres RU. Working paper: rare and critical metals as by-products and the implications for future supply: INSEAD; 2011.
7. European Commission. Report: Critical raw materials for the EU, 2010.
8. Ullal HS, von Roedem B. Thin film CIGS and CdTe photovoltaic technologies: commercialization, critical issues, and applications: NREL; 2007.
9. Nassar N.T., Barr R., Browning M., Diao Z., Friedlander E., Harper M., et al. Criticality of the geological copper family. Environ Sci Technol 2011, 46:1071-1078.
10. Candelise C., Speirs J.F., Gross R.J.K. Materials availability for thin film (TF) PV technologies development: a real concern?. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2011, 15:4972-4981.
11. Wadia C., Alivisatos A.P., Kammen D.M. Materials availability expands the opportunity for large-scale photovoltaics deployment. Environ Sci Technol 2009, 43(6):2072-2077.
12. Fthenakis V. Sustainability of photovoltaics: the case for thin-film solar cells. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2009, 13(9):2746-2750.
13. Andersson B.A., Azar C., Holmberg J., Karlsson S. Material constraints for thin-film solar cells. Energy 1998, 23(5):407-411.
14. Feltrin A., Freundlich A. Material considerations for terawatt level deployment of photovoltaics. Renew Energy 2008, 33(2):180-185.
15. Houari Y, Speirs J, Candelise C, Gross R. A system dynamics model of tellurium availability for CdTe PV. In: Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, vol. 22; 2014. p. 129-46.
16. Andersson B.A. Materials availability for large-scale thin-film photovoltaics. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 2000, 8:61-76.
17. U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral commodity summaries 2013: USGS; 2013.
18. Bleiwas DI. Byproduct mineral commodities used for the production of photovoltaic cells: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1365; 2010. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1365/.
19. Masson G et al. Global market outlook for photovoltaics 2013-2017: EPIA; 2013. Accessed June 2013. http://www.epia.org/news/publications/.
20. IEA. Technology Roadmap. Solar photovoltaic energy in International Energy Agency Report; 2010. Accessed June 2013. http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/pv_roadmap-1.pdf.
21. Bernardini O., Galli R. Dematerialization: long-term trends in the intensity of use of materials and energy. Futures 1993, 25:431-448.
22. NREL. Best research-cell efficiencies. National center for photovoltaics. Accessed June 2013. http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv/.
23. Scanlon B. Award-winning PV cell pushes efficiency higher, Newsroom, NREL. Accessed June 2013. http://www.nrel.gov/news/features/feature_detail.cfm/feature_id=2055.
24. Woodhouse M., Goodrich A., Margolis R., James T.L., Lokanc M., Eggert R. Supply-chain dynamics of tellurium, indium, and gallium within the context of PV module manufacturing costs. IEEE J Photovolt 2012, 99.
25. Morales-Acevedo A. Thin film CdS/CdTe solar cells: research perspectives. Solar Energy 2006, 80:675-681.
26. Amin N., Sopian K., Konagai M. Numerical modeling of CdS/CdTe and CdS/CdTe/ZnTe solar cells as a function of CdTe thickness. Solar Energy Mater Solar Cells 2007, 91:1202-1208.
27. Candelise C., Winskel M., Gross R. Implications for CdTe and CIGS technologies production costs of indium and tellurium scarcity. Prog Photovolt: Res Appl 2012, 20:816-831.
28. International Copper Study Group. The World Copper Factbook: ICSG; 2012.
29. Ally MR, Berry JB, Dole LR, Ferrada JJ, Van Dyke JW. Economical recovery of by-products in the mining industry: ORNL; 2001. Accessed June 2012. http://www.lesdole.com/TM225.pdf.
30. Ayres RU, Ayres LW, Råde I. The life cycle of copper, its co-products and by-products. International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); 2002.
31. Ojebuoboh F. Selenium and tellurium from copper anode slimes and their changing applications. World Metall: Erzmetal 2008, 61(1):33-39.
32. Shibaski T., Abe K., Takeuchi H. Recovery of tellurium from decopperizing leach solution of copper refinery slimes by a fixed bed reactor. Hydrometallurgy 1992, 29:399-412.
33. George MW. Selenium & Tellurium, 2011 Minerals Yearbook: USGS; 2012.
34. Selenium and Tellurium Development Association. SE & TE. Accessed June 2012. http://www.stda.org/se_te.html.
35. Guilinger J. Assessment of critical thin-film resources, RAF-9-29609 TELLURIUM; 1999.
36. Gaustad G., Olivetti E., Kirchain R. Toward sustainable material usage: evaluating the importance of market motivated agency in modeling material flows. Environ Sci Technol 2011, 45:4110-4117.
37. Marwede M., Reller A. Future recycling flows of tellurium from cadmium telluride photovoltaics. Resour Conservation Recycl 2012, 69:35-49.
38. Packey DJ. Market penetration of new energy technologies: NREL. TP-462-4860; 1993.
39. Jarup L., et al. Health effects of cadmium exposure-a review of the literature and a risk estimate. Scand J Work Environ Health 1998, 24(Suppl 1):1-51.
40. Fthenakis V, Zweibel K. CdTe PV: Real and perceived EHS risks. National center for photovoltaics and solar program review meeting. Denver, CO, USA2003.
41. First Solar, Inc. Q1 2012 Earnings Call & Five Year Plan: First Solar, Inc.; 2012. Accessed June 2012. http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/FSLR/2563159542x0x566129/962e4e50-157e-4eee-a13e-397adad45789/Presentation_-_Final.pdf.
42. EPIA Greenpeace. Solar generation 6. Solar photovoltaic electricity empowering the world. In European Photovoltaic Industry Association, Greenpeace Report; 2011. Accessed June 2013. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2011/Final%20SolarGeneration%20VI%20full%20report%20lr.pdf.
43. Razykov T.M., Ferekides C.S., Morel D., Stefanakos E., Ullal H.S., Upadhyaya H.M. Solar photovoltaic electricity: current status and future prospects. Sol Energy 2011, 85:1580-1608.
44. Noufi R, Coutts T, Bhattacharya R, Wu X, Albin D, Egaas B, et al. Polycrystalline CdTe and CIGS thin-film PV research: US DOE. Presented April 2007 in Denver, CO. Accessed June 2013. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/review_meeting/pdfs/tf_1_noufi_nrel.pdf.
45. USGS, 2011. Tellurium worksheet notes, historical statistics of minerals and materials in the United States.
46. Porter KE, Jorgenson JD, George MW. Tellurium statistics in Kelly TD, Matos GR, comps, Historical statistics for mineral and material commodities in the United States: USGS Data Series 140. Accessed June 2013. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2005/140/.
47. Porter KE, Jorgenson JD, George MW. Copper Statistics in Kelly, T.D., Matos, G.R., comps., Historical statistics for mineral and material commodities in the United States: USGS Data Series 140. Accessed June 2013. http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2005/140/.
48. USGS. 2010 Minerals Yearbook: Copper: USGS; 2012.
49. Woodhouse M., et al. Perspectives on the pathways for cadmium telluride photovoltaic module manufacturers to address expected increases in the price for tellurium. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2013, 115:199-212.
50. 5N PLUS. Cadmium telluride. Material safety data sheet.
51. Sigma Aldrich. Cadmium telluride. 99.9999% trace metal basis. Material safety data sheet.
52. TM black PV module.
53. Fthenakis V., Anctil A. Direct Te mining: resource availability and impact on CdTe PV life-cycles. IEEE J Photovolt 2013, 3(1):433-438.
54. US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Electricity. International Energy Outlook; 2013. Accessed Jan 2014. http://www.epia.org/news/publications/.
55. US Energy Information Administration (EIA). World total net electricity generation from central producers by region and country, reference case. International Energy Statistics Database. Accessed Jan 2014. http://www.epia.org/news/publications/.
56. BP. Electricity Generation TWh (from 1985). BP Statistical Review of World Energy June; 2013. Accessed Jan 2014. http://www.epia.org/news/publications/.