Emerging Technologies and Emerging Wastes: Challenges and Opportunities

This study shows issues, challenges, and business opportunities of emerging wastes (LED lamps, photovoltaics, wind turbines, lithium-ion batteries, etc.)

by Junbeum Kim

Abstract

Emerging technology is a term generally used to describe a new technology, but it may also refer to the continuing development of existing technology. Renewable energy technologies (emerging technologies), such as wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels, and batteries, are essential for the world’s transition to climate and carbon neutrality. An LED lamp or LED light bulb is an electric light that produces light using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LED lamps are significantly more energy-efficient than equivalent incandescent lamps and can be considerably more efficient than most fluorescent lamps. About 15~10 years before, those technologies were essential and emerging technologies, and the technologies are still applied and used more for sustainable society and systems. Based on the EU’s study, LED lamps, photovoltaics, lithium-ion batteries for energy storage and electromobility, and wind turbines appeared to have the highest relevance for emerging waste streams in Europe until 2030. It thus should be examined in further detail regarding their challenges and opportunities for waste management and approaches to increase circularity. For example, photovoltaic is currently the fastest emerging technology among the technologies for renewable electricity production in Europe. In 2020, about 50 000 tonnes of waste PV panels were estimated in Europe; the amount will significantly increase to more than 350,000 tonnes in 2025; in 2030, the volumes are expected to exceed 1,500,000 tonnes. Also, wind turbines are a highly relevant emerging waste stream because of their high demand for materials of about 400,000 tonnes per gigawatt of wind power. In 2020 a total waste volume of about 2.5 million tonnes per year was expected, increasing to 3.3 million tonnes per year in 2025 and 4.7 million tonnes per year in 2030.

Therefore, this study shows issues, challenges, and business opportunities of emerging wastes (LED lamps, photovoltaics, wind turbines, lithium-ion batteries, etc.). Further R&D activities in the field of the treatment and technologies of the end of life emerging wastes would be necessary to manage the considerable waste stream expected in the coming years.

Keywords: Emerging technologies and wastes, solar photovoltaic, wind turbines, lithium-ion batteries, LED lamps

published: Korea Society of Waste Management, 11|2022
Keywords: Electronic Waste, EU

Ph.D. Junbeum Kim
Université de Technologie de Troyes