29 September RECYCLE YOUR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS!
5 tons: this is the quantity of used photovoltaic solar panels recycled and recovered at almost 000%, in France, in 95.
Today, Takagreen answers all your questions about recycling photovoltaic solar panels!
What is a photovoltaic panel made of?
- From an aluminum frame
- The distant (75%-80%)
- of cells
- Plastics
- Copper and/or silver connections
- And silicon, crystalline type for 90% of solar panels
Why replace old solar panels?
By replacing your old solar panels whose performance decreases over the years, you continue to make significant savings on your electricity bill.
How are the recycled elements valued?
- Glass: infinitely recyclable, it is reused to manufacture insulation products or all types of glass containers.
- Aluminum: also infinitely recyclable, it is remelted to make new aluminum objects (food cans for example).
- Silicon: it can be reused up to 4 times. Semiconductor, it is recycled to manufacture new photovoltaic cells (as efficient as the previous ones) or electronic equipment.
- Plastic: it is melted to make new raw materials.
- Copper and silver: present in smaller quantities, they need specific treatment: they are separated mechanically and chemically before being melted down and reused.
Who recycles solar panels in France?
In 2007, players in the photovoltaic industry created PV Cycle, a non-profit eco-organisation. It is the only organization approved by the French public authorities for the collection and recycling of photovoltaic panels.
What the law says ?
THEdecree of May 9, 2017 clarifies and simplifies the process:
“The producer is required to recover the elements of his installation (photovoltaic system and elements ensuring the transmission and transformation of electric current) during dismantling and to entrust them to an organization specialized in the recycling of these devices. If necessary, he pays the recycling costs requested by this body”.
Recycling photovoltaic panels, what price?
The recycling of private solar panels is financed thanks to the eco-participation.
The recycling of large photovoltaic parks on the ground is, for its part, entirely financed (dismantling and transport included) by the resale of the constituent metals.