Hydro-PV: Environmentally Friendly Recovery of Solar Panels

Abstract The global energy transition is metal intensive. Solar panels, electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines and hydrogen technologies all require significantly more metals than their conventional alternatives to replace fossil fuel needs. Solar energy technologies rely on energy-intensive, rare, and critical raw materials such as silicon (used in solar panels), silver, (essential for its electrical conductivity) and copper (used for wiring and electrical connections). This aspect intensifies resource depletion and causes growing waste streams, as the photovoltaic industry primarily follows the linear economy principle. Crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels contain high-value recoverable resources, making them ideal candidates for high-quality recycling. Although decommissioned solar panels contain valuable materials, their life cycle remains linear. Photovoltaic panels have been designed to withstand various environmental conditions for over 20 years. However, their long-term durability can impact on their recyclability: the strong adhesive bonds and encapsulation used to protect components make them difficult to dismantle at the end of their life cycle. Traditional recycling methods mainly target the aluminum frame, junction box, and front glass, overlooking the recovery of silver due to its low concentration. Despite its low concentration, recovering silver is critical due to its high value and fast depletion rate. Given these challenges, it is crucial to develop new recycling technologies for environmental sustainability, conserving finite resources and generating profitable revenue streams. This paper will present the Hydro-PV process, an innovative hydrometallurgical method that utilizes aqueous chemistry for the recovery of metals for the selective recovery of silver and silicon from end-of-life photovoltaic panels, outlining its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits.