Researchers have developed a new method that should make it easier to recycle old solar systems. This could make the technology even more environmentally friendly.
As part of the energy transition, the popularity of solar systems increased significantly. Because producing electricity from the sun is cheaper than almost any other energy source and is also an option for your own four walls. But recycling discarded panels involves risks.
Some methods pose risks to the environment. However, a new recycling process could make this process more environmentally friendly in the future. Environmentalists are also increasingly calling for better recycling of panels.
Most solar modules are made from valuable raw materials such as silicon, aluminum and silver. Although the materials do not pose a direct threat to the environment, the recycling methods currently used create new risks.
Recycling solar systems: New method eliminates toxic waste
Many methods produce toxic waste through the use of nitric acid. Therefore researchers at Wuhan University thought, to what extent new approaches can reduce this risk. The result is a method that produces no toxic waste and is significantly more energy efficient.
The approach is based on a short chemical treatment that separates the bonds between the layers of the modules, leaving most of the materials intact. The process begins with removing the aluminum frame and glass cover.
Machines melt these parts down and allow them to be used in new panels. The team then treated the cells with a mixture of sodium and potassium hydroxide. This resulted in chemical reactions that were both corrosive and separated the components from each other.
By 2050, 80 million tons of solar waste will be generated every year
The researchers tested different conditions, from spray treatment to immersing the cells at different temperatures. They decided on a two-second immersion in the caustic solution, followed by a brief heating to 200 degrees Celsius. The short exposures caused the layers to separate.
At the same time, the individual materials remained intact. The new process could play an important role in the future as the number of solar cells to be recycled increases sharply. Experts expect that 80 million tons of solar module waste will be generated annually by 2050. The new method offers a promising solution to deal with this problem efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner.
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