TY - JOUR AB - Photovoltaics (PV) is a key pillar of renewable energy supply. However, the climate and resource crisis make it necessary to implement further optimizations toward a circular economy in the PV industry. One strategy for saving resources and lowering carbon dioxide emissions is the reuse of modules (second-life PV). As part of this work, various tests were carried out with crystalline modules from two different manufacturers. The modules had already been transported to a recycling company and were originally intended for recycling. The measurements carried out provide a comprehensive assessment of the condition of the PV modules. In total, five different measurement methods were used, two of which related to short-term measurements under controlled laboratory conditions and three to long-term assessments under real conditions. The investigation illustrated that modules from the recycling company have potential for reuse. However, it also showed that a clearly differentiated classification system is necessary due to module age- and environmental conditions-related degradation. Qualification and further long-term measurements should be implemented using a combination of measurement methods. AU - Schnatmann, Anna Katharina AU - Reimers, Tobi AU - Hüdepohl, Erik AU - Umlauf, Jonah AU - Kleinebekel, Pia AU - Schoden, Fabian AU - Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, Eva ID - 4278 IS - 3 JF - Sustainability KW - circular economy KW - crystalline photovoltaics KW - degradation KW - quality management KW - reuse KW - second-life PV KW - electroluminescence TI - Investigating the Technical Reuse Potential of Crystalline Photovoltaic Modules with Regard to a Recycling Alternative VL - 16 ER - TY - JOUR AB - In a world with growing demand for resources and a worsening climate crisis, it is imperative to research and put into practice more sustainable and regenerative products and processes. Especially in the energy sector, more sustainable systems that are recyclable, repairable and remanufacturable are needed. One promising technology is dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). They can be manufactured with low energy input and can be made from non-toxic components. More than 70% of the environmental impact of a product is already determined in the design phase of a product, which is why it is essential to implement repair, remanufacturing and recycling concepts into the product design. In this publication, we explore appropriate design principles and business models that can be applied to DSSC technology. To realize this, we applied the concept of Circo Track, a method developed by the Technical University of Delft, to DSSCs and investigated which design concepts and business models are applicable. This method enables companies to transform a product that is disposed of after its useful life into one that can be used for longer and circulates in material cycles. The most important result is the description of a performance-based business model in which DSSCs are integrated into the customer’s building and green energy is provided as a service. During the operational phase, data is collected for product improvement and maintenance, and repair is executed when necessary. When the contract expires, it can be renewed, otherwise the modules are dismantled, reused, remanufactured or recycled. AU - Schoden, Fabian AU - Schnatmann, Anna Katharina AU - Blachowicz, Tomasz AU - Manz-Schumacher, Hildegard AU - Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, Eva ID - 2228 IS - 22 JF - Sustainability TI - Circular Design Principles Applied on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Resources are becoming more expensive and less accessible, for instance construction wood or semiconductors. In addition, climate change requires the conversion of the energy system to 100% renewable energy. Therefore, we need resources to prevent the climate crisis from worsening, but at the same time, we are suffering from a worsening resource crisis. State-of-the-art technologies, such as silicon-based photovoltaic or wind power plants, are harnessing renewable energy but causing problems and resource losses at the end of their useful life. This alarming situation must be addressed with renewable energy technologies that can be used longer, repaired and remanufactured, and properly recycled at the end of their useful life. An emerging technology that can complement the established systems is dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their production is less energy intensive and they can be manufactured without toxic materials. In line with the concept of the circular economy, the service life of all products must be improved in order to reduce resource consumption. Therefore, we investigated the potential for remanufacturing DSSCs by taking apart old DSSCs, cleaning the components, and building new DSSCs from the remanufactured components. The remanufactured DSSCs have the same or higher efficiencies and can be remanufactured multiple times. AU - Schoden, Fabian AU - Detzmeier, Joscha AU - Schnatmann, Anna Katharina AU - Blachowicz, Tomasz AU - Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, Eva ID - 1918 IS - 9 JF - Sustainability KW - circular economy KW - remanufacturing KW - dye-sensitized solar cell KW - sustainability TI - Investigating the Remanufacturing Potential of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR AB - In times of climate change and increasing resource scarcity, the importance of sustainable renewable energy technologies is increasing. However, the photovoltaic (PV) industry is characterised by linear economy structures, energy-intensive production, downcycling and little sustainability. One starting point for sustainable technologies is offered by the circular economy with its circular design principles. One problematic aspect of the design of crystalline PV modules is the encapsulation. In particular, the encapsulation avoids high-value recycling or the remanufacturing of modules, which could close loops and extend the lifetime of the products. For this reason, this paper provides an overview of the current state of encapsulation methods regarding production, materials and recycling. In addition, the current state of sustainability research in the photovoltaic sector is presented using the VOSviewer tool. Furthermore, alternative encapsulation technologies are discussed and compared in terms of performance and sustainability. The current encapsulation method using ethylene vinyl acetate as the encapsulation material offers major disadvantages in terms of performance and recyclability. Alternatives are the thermoplastic material polyolefin and the alternative structure of the NICE technology. Overall, however, research should focus more on sustainability and recyclability. Alternative module structures will be a decisive factor in this context. AU - Schnatmann, Anna Katharina AU - Schoden, Fabian AU - Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, Eva ID - 2091 IS - 16 JF - Sustainability KW - circular economy KW - encapsulation KW - crystalline photovoltaic KW - sustainability TI - Sustainable PV Module Design—Review of State-of-the-Art Encapsulation Methods VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR AB - The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had a wide range of impacts on living conditions, opportunities and mental health. As discussed by society and supported by some studies, young people were particularly affected. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of research that explicitly addressed the mental health outcomes of adolescents’ and young adults’ transition. A systematic literature search in PubMed, PsycInfo, PSYNDEX, Embase and LIVIVO was conducted in February 2022. 42 of 2562 screened publications from industrialized/high-income countries were included and analyzed. All included publications show that the mental health of young people worsened during the pandemic. Several studies suggest(ed) that youths with less education and low socioeconomic status were affected most. Regarding different stages of adolescence, study results are heterogeneous. Evidence indicates that schools as institutions are important settings for everyday lives, personal development and education of young people. The review shows that there is a need for research and scientifically validated recommendations for practice. Further consideration should focus on the implementation of sustainable structures on the local level to strengthen resilience, minimize risk factors for young people’s mental health and create opportunities for valuable transitions. AU - Kuchler, Maja AU - Beckmann, Saskia AU - Habig, Celine AU - Heid, Karen AU - Rademaker, Anna Lena AU - Quilling, Eike ID - 2897 IS - 19 JF - Sustainability TI - Well-Being during the Pandemic–Insights from a Rapid Review on the Mental Health of Disadvantaged Youth and Young Adults VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Putting renewable energy to good use is necessary to deal with one of the greatest challenges of our time, namely, climate change. One problem, however, is that the technology we are using today turns into toxic waste at the end of its useful life, which in particular concerns the blades of wind turbines. We investigated how the ideas of a circular economy can be applied to address this issue. To this end, we built a small wind turbine almost entirely from used materials. The social purpose of this is to raise public awareness about renewable energy technology that is part of a circular economy. Therefore, we chose a reliable and easy-to-build concept for a small wind turbine, which can be reproduced in a “Do It Yourself” (DIY) approach. The core challenges we had to face consisted of how to acquire appropriate used materials and how to improve the efficiency of the system to obtain adequate electrical power. With a financial investment of less than €100, we built a Savonius wind turbine for use in, for example, a private garden to charge a power bank or other USB-chargeable devices. AU - Schoden, Fabian AU - Siebert, Alina AU - Keskin, Alparslan AU - Herzig, Konstantin AU - Straus, Majkel AU - Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp, Eva ID - 1128 IS - 1 JF - Sustainability TI - Building a Wind Power Plant from Scrap and Raising Public Awareness for Renewable Energy Technology in a Circular Economy VL - 12 ER -