CC BY-NC 4.0Blanco, Carlos FelipeCarlos FelipeBlancoQuik, Joris T.K.Joris T.K.QuikHof, MMHofFuortes, AgneseAgneseFuortesBehrens, PaulPaulBehrensCucurachi, StefanoStefanoCucurachiPeijnenburg, WillieWilliePeijnenburgDimroth, FrankFrankDimrothVijver, MartinaMartinaVijver2024-08-302024-08-302024https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/474285https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-361910.1039/D3EM00492A10.24406/publica-3619III-V/silicon tandem solar cells offer one of the most promising avenues for high-efficiency, high-stability photovoltaics. However, a key concern is the potential environmental release of group III‑V elements, especially arsenic. To inform long-term policies on the energy transition and energy security, we develop and implement a framework that fully integrates future PV demand scenarios with dynamic stock, emission and fate models in a probabilistic ecological risk assessment. We examine three geographical scales: local (including a floating utility-scale PV and waste treatment), regional (city-wide), and continental (Europe). Our probabilistic assessment considers a wide range of possible values for over one hundred uncertain technical, environmental and regulatory parameters. We find that III‑V/silicon PV integration in energy grids at all scales presents low-to-negligible risks to soil and freshwater organisms. Risks are further abated if recycling of III-V materials is considered at the panels’ end-of-life.enjournal article