Drivers, barriers and enablers of a South African circular solar PV module supply chain: A focus on reuse

End-of-life (EOL) solar photovoltaic (PV) module waste is a pressing issue, given the expansion of solar PV adoption and the burgeoning number of modules that will enter EOL in the next decade. The drive towards reuse is that it could offer a means to retain the value in PV modules, reduce pollution, bring renewable energy (RE) closer to the average household and offset the costs of recycling. Primary research was undertaken on the perceptions of actors along the South African PV value chain. Interviews were held with key informants in energy and e-waste, and a questionnaire was administered to the solar sector. The findings were interpreted in terms of drivers, barriers and enablers of a PV module circular economy with a specific focus on reuse. The study found that the key enablers were enforcing existing environmental legislation, which includes a mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, employing EPR fees towards waste system interventions and establishing quality assurance of second-hand products through testing and standards. Barriers to reuse were identified as being complex trade-offs between reuse, recycling and design, as well as the need for international standards and ensuring the market demand and viability of second-life modules. Research on higher-order circular economy activities, such as reuse and repair, has been limited in developing countries, including South Africa. The study adds to the body of knowledge in providing a potential framework for the development of a circular economy for PV modules in South Africa and offers broad policy recommendations for reuse.