- Glass: Glass is one of the primary materials used in solar panels and can be recovered for reuse in new glass products.
- Aluminum: The aluminum frames of solar panels are easily removable and 100% reusable, making them a significant component of solar panel recycling.
- Copper: Copper wiring and other components can be recovered and reused in various electrical applications.
- Silicon: Silicon from solar cells can be refined and reused. Although it requires further processing, such as etching away silicon wafers and smelting them into reusable forms, up to 85% of the silicon can be recovered.
- Silver: Some studies focus on recovering silver from the metallic contacts within solar panels.
- Plastics: While not always emphasized, small plastic components within solar panels can be processed and reused.
For thin film cadmium-telluride panels, additional materials recovered include:
- Cadmium and Tellurium: These semiconducting materials are crucial for the functionality of thin film panels and can be recovered during specialized recycling processes.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-materials-are-recovered-from-recycled-solar-panels/
