Circular Economy Framework on the Solar Energy Industry: Unlocking the Potential Towards Circular Economy Transition

Abstract

Abstract - The rapid expansion of the solar energy industry has led to increased resource consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions. International Renewable Energy Agency, substantial volumes of annual waste from the solar energy industry are anticipated as early as the 2030s, potentially reaching 78 million tons by 2050. Transitioning to a Circular Economy (CE) represents a promising pathway to achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability. However, advancing circularity within the solar energy sector remains complex and faces multiple challenges. This study seeks to identify potential for CE transition in the solar energy industry by analyzing topical research data using Boolean searches in the Scopus database, processed through VOSviewer for visualization. Network analysis reveals a framework comprising four interrelated clusters: emission reduction strategies (Cluster 1), end-of-life and waste management (Cluster 2), enabling governance and policy instruments (Cluster 3), and environmental assessment methodologies such as Life Cycle Assessment (Cluster 4). Density visualization indicates that only a limited number of keywords appear with high frequency, suggesting that the research field remains niche or emerging, with a specialized thematic focus. Meanwhile, overlay visualization points to the need for future research to examine the transition toward circularity in the solar energy sector through a product-based approach.

Keywords - Circular Economy, Solar Energy, Transition.