Abstract for:Conceptualising a systems model for end-of-life management of residential solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system in Australia

The increasing uptake of photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery energy storage system (BESS) in Australia will further exacerbate the e-waste crisis. An appropriate end-of-life (EoL) management policy is required to manage and recover these waste streams. PV panels and BESS supply chains are complex and highly dynamic, involving a wide range of system components such as information, policies, business strategies, time, resources, stakeholder goals, and performance. In order to overcome this challenge, this study used a systems thinking approach to develop an initial causal loop diagram (CLD) for identifying and mapping the interrelationship between key variables of the studied system. Key variables were determined a priori based on exploratory study results which include an expert review and a stakeholder survey of drivers, barriers, and enablers. The CLD was refined in a stakeholder workshop conducted in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia respectively. This study is a part of an on-going research to employ a participatory system dynamics (SD) modelling approach for end-of-life management of PV panels and BESS in Australia. The model will be used to evaluate different transition pathways to a circular supply chain of PV panels and BESS in Australia.