Solar Panel Recycling Technology, Infrastructure, and Policy
Solar panel recycling is increasingly important as global PV installations age and reach end-of-life. A typical solar panel contains glass, aluminum frames, silicon wafers, copper wiring, and encapsulating polymers. Recovering these materials requires specialized recycling technology and stable policy support.
The first stage of recycling uses dismantling equipment to remove aluminum frames, junction boxes, and wires. Next, panels enter thermal or mechanical delamination systems. Thermal treatment heats the modules to soften the EVA polymer, allowing layers to separate. Mechanical delamination uses cutters, peeling rollers, and laminated glass machines to split glass from cells without high heat.
After delamination, glass may be cleaned through dry-separation systems or flotation tanks. Silicon wafers and silver conductors are processed through chemical leaching and metallurgical refining to extract reusable materials. These machines form the backbone of PV recycling infrastructure.
Policy plays a major role. The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive mandates PV module take-back, while other regions are rapidly establishing producer-responsibility laws. Future industry growth depends on improved collection networks, dedicated recycling plants, and government subsidies to support the emergence of a circular solar-energy economy.