Frost & Sullivan: Photovoltaic module recycling requires technological innovation and policy guidance to promote efficient industry development

The main issues currently faced by the photovoltaic module recycling industry include low recycling efficiency, high secondary pollution, unstable recycling process standards, and unclear profit margins.

• Low recycling efficiency: Photovoltaic module recycling mainly includes components such as photovoltaic glass, silicon wafers, aluminum frames, EVA films, and photovoltaic backplanes. Among them, photovoltaic glass accounts for nearly 70% by mass and has a relatively complex composition structure. Classified by the removal method of EVA, the main dissociation and recycling technologies for photovoltaic modules currently include physical, chemical, and thermal treatment methods. The potential disadvantages of different recycling technologies are also quite obvious. For example, the physical method is vulnerable to the separation and recycling of metals such as silicon, resulting in low material purity; the chemical method is time-consuming and the process is relatively complex; the thermal treatment method has high energy consumption and the technology is not yet perfect. At the same time, a large part of the component disassembly stage before component dissociation is still mainly manual disassembly in the early stage, making it difficult to meet the needs of large-scale component disassembly. These points result in a still low efficiency of the overall photovoltaic module recycling industry chain.

   

• High secondary pollution: From the disassembly, collection, transportation, storage of photovoltaic modules to their disassembly, utilization, and disposal, the industry's pollution problem remains relatively severe. During the disassembly and collection stages, broken parts and dust are likely to be generated; during transportation and storage, oil and hazardous chemicals are likely to be produced; during the disassembly process, attention should also be paid to pollutants in the treatment of batteries, silicone, etc.; during the utilization and disposal stages, heavy metals and toxic gases cause significant pollution. For example, in the disposal of fluorine-containing substances in photovoltaic backplanes, although thermal treatment is currently the best disposal method, the harmless disposal of fluorine-containing products after pyrolysis still requires time and investment in technology research and development to improve efficiency.

   

• Unstable recycling process standards: At present, most enterprises in the photovoltaic module recycling industry have a small number of employees, and there is still a lack of large-scale and efficient recycling systems. At the same time, there are currently many technical paths for photovoltaic modules, and the standard system for photovoltaic module recycling treatment needs to be improved. Unified recycling standards and technical specifications are required to lead the operability and stability of the recycling process.

   

• Unclear profit margins: The photovoltaic module recycling process covers multiple links, and each link requires high investment costs, including technology research and development, intelligent equipment manufacturing, environmental protection process construction, etc. At present, the profit margin for recycling still needs to be developed to achieve the goal of large-scale recycling of waste photovoltaic modules.

Regarding the problem of low component recycling rate:

• Preliminary treatment using physical methods: Use mechanical grinding and crushing sorting process methods to separate components by using the physical properties differences between various photovoltaic components, which eliminates manual disassembly and achieves preliminary purification.

   

• Further purification using chemical methods: Use chemical reagents to further separate and purify each component after being separated by physical methods. Since the remaining mixture has similar physical properties, the chemical purification process is greatly simplified, the amount of chemical reagents used is reduced, and the purification time can be shortened.

   

• For small mixtures with extremely high purity requirements and similar physical and chemical properties, use thermal treatment methods instead of using them on all substances, thus reducing energy consumption.

   

• In short, adopting a step-by-step separation and purification method and combining physical, chemical, and thermal treatment methods can give full play to the advantages and avoid disadvantages of various methods, gradually achieving full separation of components and full purification of each substance.

Regarding the problem of high secondary pollution:

• Regarding broken parts and dust generated during the disassembly and collection stages: Regularly sprinkle water treatment at the workplace to make the dust in the air settle to the ground with water vapor, and finally collect and treat them together with broken parts.

   

• Regarding oil and hazardous chemicals during the transportation and storage stages: Use density differences to separate and collect oil, use chemical reactions to convert unstable hazardous chemicals into stable compounds for easy transportation and storage. When reusing them, convert the stable compounds back into the original hazardous chemical state through reversible reactions or other chemical changes.

   

• Regarding pollutants during the treatment of batteries and silicone: Combine physical, chemical, and thermal treatment methods to separate various pollutants, select different treatment methods for pollutant components with different properties, or use chemical methods to convert pollutants into stable compounds for storage and reuse, or use biological methods to use the degradation effect of microorganisms on certain polluting substances to degrade harmful substances into harmless substances for discharge (such as CO2, H2O, O2) or reuse (such as H2).

   

• Regarding the pollution of heavy metals and toxic gases: First consider whether the aforementioned chemical/biological methods can be used for treatment. If current scientific and technological means cannot handle them, it is recommended to store them separately first and develop new treatment technologies during storage.

Regarding the issue of standard system and technical standards for recycling treatment:

• From the perspective of improving regulations and incentive policies, the government can promote the introduction of mandatory regulations on photovoltaic module recycling, such as the Extended Producer Responsibility System (EPR), requiring manufacturers to be responsible for the entire life cycle of components. Through financial subsidies or tax incentives, encourage enterprises to establish recycling facilities or adopt environmental protection treatment technologies; unify technical and recycling standards, formulate national-level photovoltaic module recycling standards with strong compatibility based on the current industry situation, covering component classification, disassembly process, material separation, and waste disposal. Or introduce a third-party certification system to ensure that recycling enterprises operate in compliance and improve industry transparency and standardization.

   

• From the perspective of promoting industrial agglomeration and large-scale operation, draw on successful experiences in Europe and America, build regional recycling centers in areas with dense photovoltaic installations to reduce recycling transportation costs and improve operational efficiency. Rely on Internet platforms to establish cross-regional component recycling scheduling systems to achieve optimal resource allocation. Strengthen industrial alliance cooperation, encourage component manufacturers, energy enterprises, and recycling enterprises to form industrial alliances to jointly explore recycling business standards, models, and technical paths. Cooperate with universities and research institutions to promote theoretical research and technology achievement transformation.

   

• From the perspective of market-oriented models, market-oriented operation models can be introduced, such as buyback incentives, leasing models, or "trade-in" plans, to enhance users' willingness to participate in recycling. Promote the development of recycling material trading platforms to improve resource utilization efficiency.

   

• We can draw on successful experiences of other countries and strengthen international exchanges and cooperation. For example, draw on the successful practices of electronic waste recycling in the EU's "WEEE Directive" to promote standardized management and green recycling.

Regarding the issues of profit margins and recycling process:

• From the perspective of technology research and development and innovation, we can optimize recycling processes, strengthen research on various recycling technologies such as machinery, pyrolysis, and chemistry, select efficient processes suitable for different types of components, improve recycling efficiency, reduce processing costs; introduce automated equipment and intelligent management systems to reduce labor costs. Promote the application of IOT in the industry.

   

• From the perspective of policy support, improve the regulatory system and financial incentive measures. The government improves and formulates relevant laws and regulations on photovoltaic module recycling, clarifies the responsibilities and obligations of producers, recyclers, and users to ensure that the recycling process is based on law. Provide incentive policies such as tax exemptions and subsidies to encourage enterprises to invest in recycling facility construction and technology research and development, and reduce enterprise operating costs.

   

• Expand new markets and extend the industrial chain of recycled materials, such as using recycled silicon materials in other high-tech industries to increase the added value of materials.

   

• Promote green certification systems, such as the "Technical Specification for Green Grade Certification of Photovoltaic Modules" (CQC5306-2020) and the "Technical Specification for Green Supply Chain Management of Photovoltaic Enterprises" (T/CPIA 0027-2020).