Emily Folk
Solar energy has become the leading form of renewable energy and will only increase in the coming years. Since the global focus on sustainability is driving this need for solar energy, solar power must be fully sustainable to work as intended. While the energy conversion process is environmentally beneficial, the recycling portion needs improvement. Specifically, the photovoltaic (PV) panels are the primary area for concern. If experts can efficiently implement solar panel recycling, then solar energy will guarantee sustainability on all levels.
E-Waste Issues
Technology has helped the world in countless ways, but it can also come with unexpected disadvantages. E-waste occurs when electronics or pieces of electronics end up in landfills. These components can harm the environment, whether it’s from toxic heavy metals like lead or hazardous materials like plastics.
These toxins can infiltrate and disrupt ecosystems and water supplies, harming the environment and food chain. PV panels can contribute to this e-waste issue if recyclers don’t manage the process properly. Recycling each part of a PV panel, then, becomes the best option to prevent e-waste. A focus on recycling maintains solar power’s renewable properties from beginning to end — from energy conversion to reusing parts.
Solar Panel Recycling
Solar panels have a few different components, and each part holds important materials that can continue the recycling chain. Solar panels can come in two different forms. The first is the silicon-based model, and the second is the thin-film-based version. Each contains high-value parts that experts can recycle and reuse for other projects. Both models use metal, plastics, aluminum and glass, just in different proportions.
For both, aluminum and glass are two key players. Workers can easily remove the aluminum frame around the panels. They then extract the glass and separate that from the middle layer that makes up the PV components. Within these layers, silicon, copper and silver are the high-value materials that need to remain in-tact during extraction.
Glass is easy to recycle — recycling plants can recycle glass over and over since it doesn’t degrade throughout the process. Aluminum has similar reusable properties as well. However, the issue lies with the high-value materials within solar panels. They must remain in their best form to be useful for recycling.
Recycling Methods
Though there are already ways to recycle solar panel parts, there’s room for improvement. Mechanical operations currently take apart the solar panels to extract the various materials. In this process, the glass and aluminum will be in the best condition since the machine can easily access them.
Newer recycling processes can access and separate the higher-quality materials inside — silicon, copper and silver. These materials are less abundant resources that contribute to solar energy efficiency, so recycling them is necessary. These operations may only extract them in lower-purity forms, though. However, the European Union has been working with several companies to recycle PV waste. This step forward will bring about a circular economy.
Adopting a Circular Economy for Solar Panel Recycling
A circular economy is necessary to achieve full sustainability and renewability for solar energy. This kind of market means nothing goes to waste — it gives new meaning to the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle.” All parts, or as many as possible, become a part of something else.
Solar panels don’t give off carbon emissions the same way fossil fuels do. However, the incineration process of PV panel parts does. When these parts go to waste instead of a recycling plant, incineration releases high levels of carbon. With a circular economy, however, these emissions could eventually stop.
This concept then expands the discussion beyond solar panels to all e-waste. Carbon emissions decrease due to the focus on recycling and reusing within circular systems. Therefore, a circular economy can lead to full sustainability when manufacturing and recycling solar panels.