3 FAQs about Cui Chenglong dismantles photovoltaic panels

Can discarded silicon-based photovoltaic panels be recycled?

The increasing scrapped Si-based photovoltaic (PV) panels has become an urgent problem, and their disposal is essential for resources utilization and environment issues. This paper proposes a comprehensive process for recycling of discarded silicon-based PV panels economically, environmentally, and efficiently.

How long do photovoltaic panels last?

More than 90% of photovoltaic (PV) panels rely on crystalline silicon and have a life span of about 30 years. Forecasts suggest that 8 million metric tons (t) of these panels will have reached the end of their working lives by 2030, a tally that is projected to reach 80 million t by 2050 (Nat. Energy 2020, DOI: 10.1038/s41560-020-0645-2).

What are the disadvantages of recycling PV panels?

These include the reduced electricity generation capacity of PV panels using recycled materials, inefficiencies arising from manual labor, risks of cross-contamination with other types of waste, and the high costs associated with dismantling, transporting, and recycling, especially given the hazardous elements in PV panel waste .

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