Conducting an economic and ecological assessment of older photovoltaic systems, which no longer benefit from guaranteed feed-in tariffs, is important for farmers and all operators of photovoltaic installations.
Ecological assessment: reliability and longevity of photovoltaic modules in the long term
Photovoltaic modules can easily be operated for 30 years or more and manufacturers offer long-term warranties on the performance of their products. Generally, photovoltaic systems experience performance losses of around 0.5% per year, amounting to a loss of approximately 10% over a 20-year period.
Recommandation: as long as the system continues to function properly, a replacement is not necessary from an ecological perspective.
Recycling of photovoltaic modules
If a replacement is necessary, it is important to ensure the environmentally responsible disposal of the old system:
- glass content: approx. 75%, easily recyclable
- metals: copper, silver, aluminium – can be separated mechanically and chemically
- plastic and silicon components require a greater effort to recycle.
Recommandation: a list of approved recycling companies can be found via Ecotrel, an organisation authorised by the Ministry of the Environment that handles the legal obligations of manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).
Economical choice between replacement and photovoltaic self-consumption
For photovoltaic system operators, conducting an economic assessment is crucial. Key factors such as electricity prices, government subsidies, and the self-consumption rate must be carefully considered to determine whether replacing the system is financially viable.
From an economic perspective, it is preferable to use photovoltaic electricity locally for individual or collective self-consumption, without a favourable feed-in tariff. It is recommended to assess the profitability on a case-by-case basis, considering the electricity sale price, the acquisition costs, and the share of self-consumption.
