Unlocking silver from end-of-life photovoltaic panels: A concise review

Sonali Rout, Prasanta Jana, Chenna Rao Borra and Mehmet Ali Recai Önal

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 210, issue C

Abstract: Solar cells are amongst the most mature green energy technologies, providing a sustainable alternative to carbon-intensive fossil fuels. This technology depends on photovoltaic panels that contain valuable metals like silver. Silver is crucial for various technological advancements including everyday electronics and electric vehicles. The long-term viability of solar cells significantly relies on the sustainable availability of these critical raw materials. Recycling end-of-life solar panels is a beneficial practice that helps mitigate supply chain issues, conserve natural resources, and reduce production costs. This review aims to identify existing recycling technologies that can sustainably support the ongoing growth of the solar cell market. Hydrometallurgical approaches, which involve strong acidic solutions, specific temperatures, and time, are among the most popular methods for extracting and recovering silver from solar panels.

Keywords: Solar panels; Photovoltaic cells; recycling; silver; Hydrometallurgy; Electrometallurgy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.115205

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