Solar PV End-of-Life Waste Recycling: An Assessment of Mechanical Recycling Methods and Proposed Hybrid Laser and High Voltage Pulse Crushing Method

Amjad Ali (), Muhammad Shahid, Sikandar Abdul Qadir, Md Tasbirul Islam, Muhammad Waseem Khan and Shoaib Ahmed
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Amjad Ali: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (IRC-SES), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Shahid: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (IRC-SES), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Sikandar Abdul Qadir: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (IRC-SES), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Md Tasbirul Islam: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (IRC-SES), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Waseem Khan: Interdisciplinary Research Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (IRC-SES), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Shoaib Ahmed: Department of Engineering, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, PZ, Italy

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-29

Abstract: This research article investigates the recycling of end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) panels by analyzing various mechanical methods, including Crushing, High Voltage Pulse Crushing, Electrostatic Separation, Hot Knife Cutting, Water Jet Cutting, and Magnetic Separation. Each method’s effectiveness in extracting materials such as glass, silicon, metals (copper, aluminum, silver, tin, lead), and EVA was evaluated. The analysis reveals that no single method is entirely sufficient for comprehensive material recovery. Based on the data analysis, a new hypothetical hybrid method, Laser and High Voltage Pulse (L&HVP), is proposed, which integrates the precision of laser irradiation with the robustness of high voltage pulse crushing. The laser irradiation step would theoretically facilitate the removal of the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant, preparing the materials for subsequent separation. The high high-voltage pulse crushing would then selectively fragment and separate the remaining components, potentially enhancing material recovery efficiency while minimizing contamination. The proposed approach is grounded in the observed limitations of existing techniques. This method aims to offer a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for solar PV module recycling. Further research and experimentation are necessary to validate the effectiveness of the L&HVP method and its potential impact on the field of solar PV recycling.

Keywords: solar PV waste; waste recycling; mechanical recycling methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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