Making Solar PV Easily Recyclable

We need to consider the entire lifecycle of solar PV, especially as it is scaled globally. It is important to minimize the end-of-life impact of solar PV. Solar panels that were installed 20 to 25 years ago are starting to be replaced with newer panels. CdTe and CIGS solar PV contain toxic cadmium, and perovskite-based PV contains water-soluble lead, so special materials handling is required, which is expensive and in some cases can even exceed the cost of the panel.

Luckily, the majority of the traditional solar PV panels are made with crystalline-silicon (c-Si), which is not toxic, but the panels are relatively heavy, which can make the transportation costs to a recycling facility as much as the cost of recycling itself. In the US, most of the old c-Si panels go to the landfill, with only about 10% being recycled.

Clean energy must be sustainable. PI Energy’s technology has significant advantages for long-term sustainability and cost reduction that are important for recycling, mostly by virtue of being lightweight and non-toxic. At the end of 30 years, we expect that PI Energy’s PV materials may be replaced with a better-performing and newer PI Energy PV film. Without toxic materials, recycling is easier and lower-cost. Also, being lightweight and flexible allows for far lower transportation costs. PI Energy’s significantly thinner solar cell also reduces the amount of materials to be recycled in the future.