Those who work in the solar industry or understand this domain know the significance of solar energy for communities around. Solar cells are the cheapest source to produce as much electricity as you want and the most powerful tool to convert sun rays into power.
Considering the importance of solar energy, millions of residential and commercial solar panels have been installed in the past two decades. The typical lifespanof a solar cell lies between 25 and 30 years, many of these panels will be retired soon. They may go to a landfill.
If solar panels are recycled regularly, they can reduce waste and produce new material that can be reused. This article explicitly focuses on solar panel recycling. Let’s get into further specifics.
Can solar panels be recycled?
Are solar panels recyclable? The answer to this question is a big YES. Solar cells are prepared with recyclable materials. Therefore, recycling solar panels is very much possible. However, it is not a piece of cake.
What Parts of a Solar Panel Can Be Recycled?
The solar system panel components include metal framing, wires, Plexiglas, silicon solar cells, and glass sheets. Out of these components, you can recycle copper wiring, glass, and metal. They all can be reused later. Recycling silicon cells has a different story.
If we talk about the silicon wafers, they can’t be recycled like plastic and glass. Some companies have the facility to melt down the silicon cells and reuse them later.
Why Is Solar Panels Recycling Challenging?
It is a fact that solar panels are hard to recycle, but it is not because the components they are made from are difficult to recycle. The reason behind the recycling challenges is that the solar panels are composed of different parts that are used together. Therefore, separating all materials and recycling them individually becomes a challenging task.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) statement, the cost of recycling one solar module is between $15 and $45. On the other hand, the cost of landfilling per module is between $1 and $5. Due to the higher costs of recycling, many solar cells go to landfills.
How are solar cells recycled?
The process of separating all materials is a tough nut to crack. Successful solar panel recyclinginvolves a couple of steps, as listed below.
Step 1:Remove the aluminum frame (it is entirely reusable).
Step 2:Then, separate glass along a conveyor belt. It is 95% reusable.
Step 3:It is time for thermal process at 500॰C. It allows small plastic components to evaporate and separates the silicon cells easily.
Step 4:Convert silicon wafers into reusable slabs by melting them. They are 85% reusable.
After 1990, many nations started installing big solar systems, so the solar recycling industry has started growing at a fast pace.
When to recycle solar panels?
The answer to this question is associated with how long a solar cell lasts. As stated earlier, the average lifespan of a solar panel is 25 to 30 years. Once this time reaches, the performance of these panels starts degrading.
According to theoretical studies, from day 1 to the last day of the lifespan, the performance of solar cells can be decreased by 20%. In the first 10 years, the maximum decrease you can notice in the performance of a solar panel is 10%. The reduction in efficiency reaches 20% after 25 years of installing a solar panel. The efficiency decreases even if you have used the most efficient panels.
As far as the real-life experiences of solar users are concerned, the drop in efficiency is between 6% and 8% after 25 years. It clearly means that solar panels can last much longer than 25 to 30 years (the officially stated lifespan). Therefore, the lifespan of high-quality solar cells can be up to 40 years. Despite the reduction in efficiency, they can even work well after this duration.
What if solar panels are not recycled timely?
If we don’t recycle solar cells on time, the waste going to the landfills will be increased greatly as is the case these days. The lack of infrastructure leads to over 90% of solar panels ending up in landfills.
Earlier, there was no need to recycle solar panels, but it has become necessary now because more than 4 million tons of PV cells will reach their lifetime by 2030. If authorities don’t pay close attention to recycling solar panels, the solar panel waste of 60 million tons will go to landfills by 2050. It will not be so sustainable as each PV cell consists of some toxic substances.
Therefore, it is a myth that solar panels can’t be recycled. However, the process is time-consuming and challenging. Plus, it will take time to boost the solar panel recycling industry.
Types of solar panels recycling
There are two major types of solar panels recycling: thin film and silicon-based. Let’s explore how these recycling approaches are different from each other.
1. Thin Film-Based Solar Panels Recycling
As far as the manufacturing of thin film-based solar cells is concerned, they are made up of 6% aluminum, 89% glass, 1% metal, and 4% plastic. This process is more complex than the silicon-based recycling. Here is how you can recycle thin film-based PV panels.
Step 1:Throw these solar cells into the shredder.
Step 2:Put the PV cells through the hammermill to reduce the particles to 4mm to 5mm. Doing this breaks the lamination that holds them together.
Step 3:Now, you will get the solid material and the liquid. Use a rotating screw to separate both materials.
Step 4:Pass the liquid material through the precipitation process. The residue of this step will undergo metal processing.
Step 5:Use a vibrating surface to separate the solid semi-conductive material. Rinse the remaining matter. As a result, you will get the glass only.
Step 6:You can reuse 90% of the glass and 95% of the solid semi-conductive material.
2. Silicon-Based Solar Panels Recycling
Unlike thin film-based PV modules, silicon cells are made up of 76% glass, 10% plastic, 8% aluminum, 5% silicon, and 1% metal. This process is relatively easy compared to thin film-based solar panel recycling. The steps included in this process are as follows.
Step 1:Dissemble the solar cells to separate glass and aluminum. Out of this separation, you can reuse 100% of aluminum and 95% of the glass.
Step 2:This step is about thermal processing. Heat up the remaining materials at 500॰C. It will allow the small parts of plastic to evaporate and separate the solar modules. 80% of these PV modules are reusable.
Step 3:You can use the melted plastic as a heat source. It can be helpful in future thermal processing.
Step 4:Now, you have the fully exposed silicon wafers. You can etch them away with acid before melting. During the recycling process, 15% of the silicon is wasted, whereas 85% remains reusable.
The Recycling Market
Though the solar cell recycling market is new, research scientists are working on introducing easily implementable and affordable strategies for recycling solar modules. Many countries have introduced dedicated design laws to make sure recycling is done on time. Some other countries are also working on managing the PV cell waste effectively.
The international PV panel recycling market is growing day by day. The value of the global market was $320 million or £250 million in 2022. By 2028, this number is projected to rise to $1.66 billion or £1.29 billion.
As you know, the amount of PV cells continues to increase every other day, so recycling them on time can provide you with a big source of materials that can be reused. It leads to a more sustainable solar energy approach.
According to a study published in July 2024, the worth of the US solar panel recyclingmarket is expected to reach $130.84 millionby 2033. The biggest challenge so far to recycle solar panelsis the higher cost of recycling.
Top 3 solar panel recycling companies
This section presents some credible companies that recycle solar cells. You can reach them if you need similar services.
1. Solar Cycle
It is a popular name in the solar cell recycling industry. Solar Cycle is known for making solar energy more sustainable. If you are looking for advanced and more professional recycling solutions, they will be your go-to partner. This company has partnered with the nation’s leading solar companies to recycle their solar panel waste.
2. We Recycle Solar
At We Recycle Solar, you will find complete PV cell recycling solutions. Whether you want recycling services for commercial or residential purposes, this company has got you covered. This name is trusted by the nation’s leading solar energy brands, including but not limited to Sunnova, Solv Energy, NextEra Energy, and SDGE.
3. Solar Panel Recycling
They are the pioneers in the solar recycling industry in the United States. So far, the Solar Panel Recycling company has recycled millions of solar panels in multiple states in the US. With years of solar module recycling experience, this company provides its services in over 50 states with four different recycling facilities.
The Benefits of Solar Panel Recycling in the Future
To recycle a huge amount of solar panel waste that will complete its lifespan (25 to 30 years) soon, an appropriate recycling infrastructure should be established. As soon as a reliable structure is developed, we will see a range of positives and economic benefits.
A proper PV panel recycling system will create millions of green job opportunities for newbies and seasoned professionals. With such opportunities, making billions of solar panels is possible without even investing in any kind of raw material: silicon, aluminum, glass, and plastic. Producing billions of solar panels means generating gigawatts of solar energy.
The major drops in the prices of solar system components has attracted millions of homeowners and businesses to install solar systems. As a result, more opportunities are created in the solar panel recycling industry.
Conclusion
If you are searching for “can solar panels be recycled,” the answer is yes. Recycling solar panels is challenging because it is made up of different components: plastic, silicon, glass, and aluminum. You have to separate all these materials before you start recycling. The solar panel recyclingindustry is growing gradually. It will help us avoid putting solar panel waste into landfills.
Looking at the significant reduction in solar panel pricing, if you are planning to install them on your site or place, contact Renogy. They are the leading supplier of premium-quality solar system components, including batteries, battery chargers, inverters, solar panels, charge controllers, and solar kits. Renogy operates in different countries: the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries.
