A new study proposes a cost-effective way to recycle solar panels to address the expected increase in the amount of discarded photovoltaic (PV) cells by the end of the decade.
In a paper published last week by a team from the University of New South Wales, researchers explored a process to collect and extract valuable materials from solar arrays and see if they were technically, economically and environmentally viable. I gave you an overview.
The process involves collecting the solar array, stripping it from its aluminum frame, shredding the cells, using static electricity to separate precious materials such as silver and copper, and reducing the panel to 2% to 3% of its original weight. Reduce.
Recovered materials are shipped directly to refineries for refining and processing.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Pablo Diaz, said it showed it was possible to operate a small-scale facility capable of managing 1,000 tons of solar panels per year. This roughly equates to 50,000 panels per year, or about 4,100 panels per month.
“This is something someone can get elsewhere and it uses no chemicals and emits no pollution or harmful pollution. Squeezing the panels creates dust, but there has a dust collector,” says Diaz.
Australia currently has little capacity to process and recycle solar panels at the end of their life. This is seen as an increasingly pressing issue as rooftop solar penetration is high and large solar plant proposals mean more and more panels will reach the end of their life.
A 2016 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) found that large and early adopters of solar power can expect the greatest amount of waste from older systems.
Australia is projected to generate 145,000 tonnes of solar power waste annually by 2030, while the US projects 1 million tonnes and China 1.5 million tonnes.
Diaz said smaller facilities are important because they can treat materials closer to their source before sending them out, reducing emissions from transportation.
“We can do this in the outskirts of South Australia and concentrate valuable materials before sending them directly to refiners who extract and refine the metals,” he said.
He then moved to practice his research through a startup, Solar Cycle, which is building a facility in Texas, USA. It is scheduled to be operational by November.
Professor Peter Majewski of the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute, who was not involved in the study, said it “absolutely makes sense” but cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach. .
“There will be a huge amount of solar panels going into production, so we need to develop a strong recycling technology and industry in that area,” said Majewski.
“At the moment, all the different scenarios are worth considering. We need to develop different ways of recycling.”
Majewski said that while it would be necessary to think about how to dispose of used solar panels, it was a “solvable problem” and could be resolved with a stewardship scheme that would clarify who is responsible and the rules for disposal.
“Solar panels and wind power often highlight waste as an issue in a different way than other discussions,” said Majewski. “A lot of technology creates waste. We can manage it. It’s a matter of law and technology.”
