Circular economy and solar photovoltaics: Is there a case for second-life PV modules?
What happens to a solar PV module after its expected 25-year operational life?
Interview: Inside solar panel decommissioning
The practical matter of taking a dead PV system apart and moving its components to their next destination has received less attention than recycling and second-life applications. In the United States, Decom Solar is offering decommissioning for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects. pv magazine spoke to Decom Solar co-founder Stephen Burns for an update.
Saving the U.S. solar panel recycling market
Emilie O’Leary specializes in an often-overlooked aspect of the U.S. solar industry – recycling. From her base in Atlanta, Georgia, she told pv magazine why she decided to try and tackle the obscene quantities of waste the industry generates.
Sunrise brief: BLM releases plan to develop solar on 31 million acres of Western land
Also on the rise: U.S. DOE allocates $325 million for community solar, battery storage in Puerto Rico. Japanese manufacturer Toyo Solar announces 2 GW panel factory in U.S.
Canadian Solar partners with Solarcycle to keep solar panels out of landfills
Solarcycle will serve as Canadian Solar’s preferred recycling partner, with Canadian Solar’s customers now offered the option to secure recycling services at the time of purchase.
Circular recycling approach aims for ‘perpetual utility’ of PV materials
After analyzing the future usage of material by the crystalline silicon PV industry, including glass, aluminum, silver, copper, ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA), and silicon, a German research team found that a circular recycling approach could address foreseeable supply problems. It could also reportedly become economically sustainable.
Improving solar panel recyclability with lasers
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a proof of concept for a method to remove polymers from solar panel manufacturing to enable more efficient recycling.
Qcells partners to recover 95% of solar panel value with recycler
The partnership of Qcells and Solarcycle marks a first-of-its kind recycling partnership between a U.S. solar manufacturing operation and a recycling provider.
Solar recycling headquarters and research lab opens in Arizona
Backed by funding from leading corporations and institutions, Solarcycle sets up shop in Mesa, Arizona, to advance a circular economy for the solar industry.
Major U.S. solar developer announces recycling plans
EDF Renewables North America signs on with Solarcycle to recycle damaged or broken solar panels.
