Recycling solar panels is a reality that contributes even more to the sustainability of photovoltaic energy. Because, once the panels have finished their useful life, their components are recycled to give them a new use.
In Spain, this issue is regulated by Royal Decree 110/2015 on electrical and electronic equipment and waste management. This regulation transposes the European Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment into our legal system, which makes it mandatory to recycle photovoltaic panels.
As we have just pointed out, recycling solar panels is list of zimbabwe consumer email not an option but an obligation. If you are going to replace an old panel with another one, the installer will take care of the recycling. If you are not going to make the change, you can take the solar panel to a recycling center.
What you should never do is try to dismantle a plate yourself, because it contains materials that can be dangerous. That is why the task must be carried out by specialists.
The recycling process
Photovoltaic panels are mainly made of glass, and also include aluminium, plastic and semiconductor metals such as silicon. On average, 95% of the components of a photovoltaic panel are recyclable , and can be reused to build new solar panels.
The aluminium frame that covers the entire panel is a 100% recyclable material. The glass, on the other hand, is 95% recyclable.
Once these materials are removed, what remains are small amounts of plastic and other materials. These are subjected to a thermal process and the heat causes the residual plastic components to evaporate, and the remaining materials can be reused.
Silicon , which is used to make up cell cells, is the most complex material to recycle, and yet it is 85% recyclable. In order for it to have another useful life, it undergoes different purification and smelting processes.
This is achieved through different mechanisms or systems that complement each other:
Mechanical crushing
Within the solar panel recycling process , the first step is mechanical shredding, which consists of disintegrating the panels into small fragments using mechanical equipment. The pieces are then classified according to whether they are made of glass, metal or plastic.
