SOLAR RECYCLING FAQs

WHAT'S IN A SOLAR PANEL?

Most components of a solar module can be recycled, including:

The remaining materials are called the "laminate" and they contain:

AL Frame

Tempered Glass

Encapsulant-EVA

Solar Cells

Encapsulant-EVA

Backsheet

Junction Box

Several methods for separating components exist, and no one technique has emerged as the dominant process to isolate components from each other.

All processes begin by removing

Once these components are separated, the laminate remains. Techniques used for this step include:

Thermal Processing:

The laminate is heated to burn away the backsheet and encapsulants. This is done in ovens that capture gasses that would harm the atmosphere.

Mechanical Separation:

Components are separated using one of the following machine-based processes:

The cells and backsheet are removed using a thin blade that slices the cells and backsheet from the glass.

The laminate is cut into small squares (roughly 2" by 2") that are crushed and sorted using optical sorting techniques.

Chemical Separation:

Components in the laminate are separated using proprietary processes involving chemicals.

End Markets exist for most components in a solar module:

Aluminum:

Glass:

Copper and Other Precious Metals:

Sillicon:

FAQ: Features

What's in a solarpanel?

Recycling Process

End Makets