The recycling and treatment of end-of-life solar and photovoltaic panels is one of the most relevant and discussed challenges in the renewable energy sector today. As solar energy has become increasingly popular over the past two decades, a phenomenon that continues to grow, there is an urgent need for an adequate infrastructure for the recovery and valorization of the materials that make up end-of-life modules.
In fact, the lack of specialized facilities hinders the efficient management of what will become millions of tons of PV waste over the next 25 to 30 years. However, the recycling industry is rapidly evolving to meet this new demand with increasingly powerful technological solutions.
One of the most important aspects of solar panel recycling is the ability to recover valuable materials through an efficient separation process. Among these, silicon is one of the most strategic yet complex fractions to recover cleanly and profitably.
Today, thanks to StokkermillSolar's highly efficient electromechanical recycling systems, it is possible to recover a mixture consisting mainly of silicon and glass powder. This material currently has a significant economic value, partly due to the presence of precious metals such as silver. The market prospects are very promising, especially with the continuous improvement of separation and refining techniques after the initial treatment.
To further optimize silicon recovery, Stokkermill Solar has developed an innovative material delamination technology that can significantly reduce process equipment wear and maintenance time.
StokkermillSolar's delamination refiner mill is constructed from special alloys, heat treated where necessary, and uses friction surfaces made from high performance composite materials that can significantly exceed the yields of conventional materials.
With a high level of technological specialization and a proven track record in major international markets, Stokkermill Solar is now positioned as a benchmark in the solar panel processing industry.
The recovery of glass from PV panels is another critical issue for the industry. For this reason, Stokkermill Solar has paid special attention to the quality of the output fractions, especially with regard to grain sizes larger than 2 mm.
Stokkermill Solar's separation systems - mechanical, electromechanical, magnetic and optical detection - ensure that high purity fractions are obtained, suitable for direct use in the glass production chain.
Regarding glass reuse, we note aninteresting article recently published in RecyclingInside, documentingan experiment between Saint-Gobain, a multinational glass company, and MalthaRecycling, a leading Dutch company in glass material refining, aimed atproducing flat glass from recycled solar panels:
For more information about our systems for recycling and recovery of solar panels,you can
write to 📧 info@stokkermill.com
or contact us by phone 📞 +39 328 8272193
Stokkermill Solar leader In the treatment of end of life solar and photovoltaic panels.
