A recycling pilot plant project developed by German engineering company Geltz Umwelt-Technologie is designed to retrieve reusable material from solar modules.

A large number of solar panels currently in use will be scheduled for disposal in the early 2030s as these systems near the end of their service lives. In preparation for this tidal wave of waste, the EU-funded ELSi project was launched to develop the capability to extract reusable materials from solar energy equipment.

The pilot facility uses an energy-efficient pyrolysis scheme to process up to 50,000 solar modules annually, or one metric ton of solar module waste per complete pyrolysis process. The treatment dissolves the polymer layers that hold the glass panels together, a step that previously rendered mechanical separation and treatment of solar module components almost impossible. Aluminum, glass, silver, tin, copper and silicon are separated and recovered.

Sieves and air classifiers separate fine materials as exhaust gases are treated with a thermal afterburner and gas scrubber-equipped quench system. Over 95 percent of solar module components are expected to be recycled with this recovery route.

Schematic of the pilot plant. Source: ELSi Project