Recycling Solar Panel Waste Glass Sintered As Glass Ceramics

Disposal of solar panels.

Recycling solar panel waste glass sintered as glass ceramics.

Acknowledgements this study was supported by rnm 325 research group cice junta de andalucia spain and research team ei rnm05 2017 university of jaen spain. Solar panel waste glass is a potentially valuable source of major oxides including sio 2 and na 2 o. Solar energy is inexpensive and environmentally friendly until your solar panels have reached the end of their lifetime. The international renewable energy agency estimated that there were about 250 000 metric tons of solar panel waste in the world at the end of 2016 and that the figure could reach 78 million metric tons by 2050.

With recycling expensive. Environmental scientists and solar industry leaders are raising the red flag about used solar panels which contain toxic heavy metals and are considered hazardous waste. From a regulatory aspect pv panel waste still falls under the general waste classification. Moreover the recycling of waste glass from solar panels brings an important added value from the environmental point of view.

Solar photovoltaic panels whose operating life is 20 to 30 years lose productivity over time. After about 30 years many crystalline silicon solar panels will start having significant dips in energy production and it may be time to replace them or dispose of them entirely. Excellent news for clean renewable energy production. Nevertheless a major challenge lies behind this success.

Solar panel recycling is important for the future of solar. Solar panels contain lead cadmium and other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed. The lifespan of solar panels may thus be much longer than officially stated. Solar panel waste glass is a potentially valuable source of major oxides including sio2 and na2o.

Within a few years these panels will be waste that has to be treated. In france 190 000 metric tons of solar panels were sold in 2016 2017 and the figure is set to increase further over the next decade. The recycling of waste glass from solar panels therefore is an important issue. A 2018 report from the institute of energy research suggests imposing a recycling fee on solar panel purchases.

The solar panel waste glass that was fired at 850 c had a dense and homogeneous well sintered microstructure and contained large glass like zones. The lifespan of high quality pv panels may even reach 30 to 40 years and be still functional afterwards though with decreasing efficacy. This investigation evaluated the feasibility of converting solar panel waste glass into new glass ceramic materials using dta and xrd. The recycling of waste glass from solar panels therefore is an important issue.