Recycling of PicoPV Systems
From energypedia
Revision as of 10:32, 10 December 2010 by ***** (***** | *****)
Mass prodcution of PicoPV systems has to provide a solution for recycling. Batteries are the first components of a PicoPV system, which have to be replaced after four to five years use (depending on the type of battery).
Lead-acid and NiMH batteries are the most common types for storage of energy in PicoPV systems. Since Lead is considered as being one of the mosti toxic heavy metals, its measures of recycling are of great interest.
Within Africa already exist recycling possibilities for Lead-acid batteries[1]:
- North: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia
- East: Kenya, Ethiopia
- South: South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland
- West: Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria
- Central: Cameroon
But these facilities face some difficulties[1]:
- only 70% of the total battery is recycled. Plastic casing, separators, connections and the sulfuric acid are not revcovered.
- workers are mainly not trained or protected against poisoning
- the public is not informed about the dangers of handling a used energy storage
- number of presence of batteries and recycling facilities is not known.
Recycling benefits people, environment and can offer new sources of economic gains.
