1. Glass
Makes up ~75% of panel weight, with up to 95% reusable in silicon panels after separation. Thin-film panels also recover glass.
2. Aluminum
Frames and structural components are 100% reusable after disassembly.
3. Copper
Wiring and electrical components are extracted through shredding or thermal processing.
4. Plastics
Junction box plastics and encapsulants are either incinerated (silicon panels) or reused as heat sources during thermal recycling. New designs aim to replace/reduce these.
5. Silicon
Cells are etched and smelted into reusable slabs, achieving 85% recovery rates. Some processes recover silver contacts, though extraction remains challenging due to small quantities.
Thin-film panels additionally recover:
- Cadmium & tellurium through specialized processes at dedicated facilities
- Semiconductor layers via shredding and chemical separation.
While lead and other toxins may be present in some panels, their recovery is not consistently documented in standard recycling streams. Current research focuses on minimizing hazardous materials and improving recovery rates for rare elements.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-materials-are-typically-recovered-from-recycled-solar-panels/
