As global photovoltaic capacity installation continues to rise, a large number of early-installed photovoltaic modules will reach the end of their service life in the coming decade. New policies boost investment in PV recycling lines, creating unprecedented opportunities for their development.
What new policies are driving investment in PV recycling production lines?
Photovoltaic panels contain valuable materials such as glass, ඇලුමිනියම්, silicon, and small amounts of silver and copper. කෙසේ වෙතත්, they also potentially contain harmful substances like lead and cadmium. Simply landfilling waste not only wastes resources but also creates risks of soil and groundwater contamination.
Based on this understanding, governments across the world have implemented new regulations and incentives to promote investment in solar panel recycling management. Hence, new policies boost investment in PV recycling lines.
As early as 2012, the European Union incorporated PV modules into the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), requiring manufacturers to assume responsibility for the recycling of these components. Moreover, they have set a recycling rate target of up to 85%. This has directly spurred investment in European recycling technologies and facilities.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) released the Solar Futures Study in 2023, indicating that the photovoltaic recycling industry will become a vital link in the clean energy chain over the next decade. California and Washington State have implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, requiring the establishment of photovoltaic recycling programs while encouraging the use of equipment with high recycling rates.
China’s National Energy Administration has issued the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Coordinated Development of the Photovoltaic Industry Chain. ප්රතිඵලයක් වශයෙන්, this policy calls for the establishment of a recycling system for retired photovoltaic modules. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released the “Guidelines for Renewable Energy Recycling,” which outlines standard procedures for solar panel disassembly equipment and material separation. South Korea’s Ministry of Environment has established a photovoltaic recycling demonstration base. Furthermore, this base aims to promote advanced models combining mechanical recycling and pyrolysis technology.
What Successful Cases Can Serve as References?
Driven by new policies, our photovoltaic recycling solutions successfully serve multiple global markets. Below are two representative project case studies.
Single-glass photovoltaic panels disposal project
In 2022, we constructed a 1000kg/h photovoltaic panel recycling production line for a German client. This production line employs mechanical recycling processes, which separate glass, silicon, aluminum frames, and conductive materials from components through crushing and sorting. The entire process produces no secondary pollution, and consumes minimal energy.
- Equipment Configuration: Automatic feeding system, crushing unit, air classifier, magnetic separator, optical sorting system, and dust removal system.
- Recycling Efficiency: Glass recycling purity exceeds 96%, and metal recovery rate surpasses 95%, which fully meets the recycling standards of EU.
Solar panel pyrolysis project solution
In 2024, a client from Japan contacted us. They intended to invest in building a photovoltaic recycling production line with annual processing capacity of 5,000 tons. The process decomposes the EVA encapsulation layer in a pyrolysis furnace, and then uses mechanical equipment to separate the metal, glass, and silicon wafers.
- Equipment Configuration: Pyrolysis furnace, exhaust gas purification system, cooling unit, and automatic sorting system.
- Recovery efficiency: Silicon recovery purity reaches 99%, and exhaust gases meet emission standards through the purification system.
