Recycling of solar modules: challenges and solutions for the solar industry

Recycling is, alongside production and usage, an essential part of the circular economy. The principle of the circular economy is to maximize product lifespan while minimizing resource use. Recycling focuses on dismantling products and breaking them down into their original materials. Recycling solar panels helps reduce waste and enables the reuse of materials.

Overview of Solar Panel Recycling: Why is it Important?

The use of solar panels for electricity generation is an important part of the so-called energy transition. Electricity from renewable energy sources is intended to replace fossil fuels and thus contribute to reducing CO2 emissions to counteract global warming. In addition to solar panels, there are other ways to generate renewable energy, but their implementation is often challenging due to the limited number of potential installation sites.

To effectively use solar panels as a convincing part of environmental and climate protection, it is necessary to make them suitable for the circular economy. Today, innovative solar panels are being developed that can be broken down into their original materials using modern recycling technologies.

In summary, the importance of this can be highlighted by:

• Environmental Protection: Avoiding waste and using materials efficiently to minimize the need for new raw materials.
• Energy Saving and Climate Protection: Producing a new product from recycled materials generally requires less energy than from new raw materials.
• Circular Economy: The circular economy is the most efficient way of managing resources, as every stage of a product's life—from production, through use, to recycling—is carefully examined and optimized for longevity and reuse.

Main Challenges in Recycling Old Solar Panels

While new products are designed to be incorporated into the circular economy, this was less common in the early years. Often, dismantling the individual components of panels is labor-intensive and difficult. While removing the aluminum frame is relatively simple, breaking down the panel into glass, silicon cells, and backsheet film is a challenge for solar panel recycling. Some older panels also contain toxic substances such as lead, which further complicates recycling because improper handling of these materials could harm the environment.

Innovative Technologies in Solar Panel Recycling

In the 1980s, there was the first major boom in solar installations, as prices dropped significantly and the technology became mass-market. However, it took until the 2000s for Germany to experience a significant boom. Currently, about 10,000 tons of old PV modules enter the recycling market annually. Since modules have a lifespan of at least 20 to 30 years, this amount will increase to around 500,000 tons per year by 2030. For this reason, research institutes and companies are feverishly working on innovative solutions for solar panel recycling.

Case Studies: Successful Recycling Programs in the Solar Industry

An example of forward-looking solar panel recycling is the startup "Solar Materials." This startup, in collaboration with scientists from the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics (CSP), is developing its own process for recovering materials from discarded solar panels. A key part of their work is creating a comprehensive database of PV modules to customize the recycling process. The database contains the components of various modules. Additionally, the company is developing recycling processes that aim to minimize environmental impact.

Future Prospects and Development Potential in Solar Panel Recycling

The topic of solar panel recycling is particularly interesting for companies because annual sales figures allow relatively accurate predictions about the annual amount of equipment to be recycled. On the other hand, the solar industry is a very forward-looking market that will continue to require a significant amount of raw materials. Therefore, it is expected that recycling will continue to be highly developed, and we can look forward to innovations that will improve recycling, making it more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

The recycling industry is supported by the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). This law also applies to solar panels and involves responsible handling of devices in this category, including proper and professional disposal. Solar panels must be disposed of at appropriate collection points, from where they can be sent for recycling.