Solar Panel Recycling: Sustainable Practices for End-of-Life Solar Panels

Solar power is the most abundant source of renewable energy on earth, but what happens when your solar panels meet the end of their life cycle? Do they go to the landfill where they contribute to the rest of the waste on earth?

They don’t have to! That’s where the process of solar panel recycling comes in. Solar panel recycling is when solar panels are broken down to recover the components of the panels that can be reused and recycled. This blog will discuss the benefits, impact, and different methods of solar panel recycling.

Benefits Of Solar Panel Recycling

Recycling in any capacity is a method of improving the environment by limiting greenhouse gasses and waste. Recycling companies can recover materials like glass, silicon, and metals to reuse, helping the materials solar panels are composed of to avoid landfills.

Not only is recycling good for the environment, it’s also good for the economy. Without transporting materials to a landfill to be broken down, time, money, and energy are saved. Plus, some of the materials from used solar panels can be reused for new solar panels in the future. This makes the production of new solar panels significantly more cost-effective.

Types of Solar Panel Recycling

When it comes to recycling solar panels, there are a variety of effective methods that extract important, reusable materials. There are benefits to each method depending on the condition of your used solar panels.

Mechanical Recycling

During mechanical recycling, the solar panels are broken down into all their separate components with a machine. Glass, polymers, and metals are separated by cutting, crushing, and shredding the panels. 

Most companies will just extract materials from the aluminum frame, but some companies will take extra time and meticulous care to take out the smaller parts of the solar panels. Mechanical recycling is great for recovering materials, but it’s best for panels that have not significantly deteriorated.

Thermal Processing

In thermal processing, the solar panels are heated to extremely high temperatures. This allows the panels to break down at the molecular level to extract valuable elements. Then, the leftover ashes can be processed further to remove silicon and metals that can be reused.

Hydrometallurgical Recycling

Hydrometallurgy is the cheapest form of solar panel recycling. In this process, metals are dissolved and separated from solar panels using chemical solutions. For the extraction of silver, copper, and indium, this form of metal recovery is the most effective.

Go Solar With Advanced Solar

Solar panels can be environmentally friendly from production, to active use, and even to the end of their life cycle. 

At Advanced Solar, we understand the needs and challenges of living a more sustainable lifestyle. Our team is dedicated to designing and implementing solar solutions that not only meet sustainability goals but also contribute to your success. 

Embrace solar power with Advanced Solar, and let’s work together to create a brighter, more sustainable future. Ready to implement solar power in your home or business? Contact Advanced Solar today to learn more.