As the photovoltaic (PV) industry experiences rapid development, the issue of managing retired PV modules has increasingly come to the forefront. According to predictions by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, China will enter a peak period for PV module retirement in the coming years, with a massive amount of discarded modules needing prompt disposal. However, how prepared is China for this urgent task of recycling PV modules, and what challenges does the industry face?
Current State of Recycling
PV module recycling involves dismantling discarded PV modules to recover and reuse materials. These modules consist primarily of cells, glass, EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), and backsheets. Currently, waste PV modules mainly originate from power stations and production lines, with some flowing to professional PV recycling enterprises and others temporarily stored in warehouses until conditions are ripe for dismantling and processing.
At the policy level, China has initiated efforts to promote PV module recycling. In July 2023, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Circular Utilization of Retired Wind and PV Equipment,” aiming to establish a circular utilization system for wind and PV equipment covering green design, standardized recycling, high-value utilization, and harmless disposal.
As the recycling market gradually forms, more enterprises are participating in the PV recycling industry. Some companies, such as JinkoSolar, are focusing on upgrading technology and equipment and building recycling channels to maximize the value of recycled materials. Meanwhile, others, like the Yellow River Hydropower Development Company of State Power Investment Corporation, have achieved significant breakthroughs in key technologies for the industrialization of crystalline silicon PV module recycling and the localization of equipment.
Industry Challenges
Despite the enormous potential and benefits of the PV module recycling industry, it still faces numerous challenges.
Firstly, profitability is a major dilemma for the PV module recycling industry. Since the large-scale retirement period has not yet arrived, the market supply is insufficient, and the industry has not yet formed a scaled industrial chain, resulting in high costs for dismantling, transportation, and recycling of waste modules. Additionally, some enterprises are limited by technology, leading to simplistic processing methods and significant resource waste, which further affects the industry’s profitability.
Secondly, PV modules have a complex structure comprising various materials, and the separation and recycling of these materials require efficient technical support. However, the industry still faces difficulties in processing fluorine-containing backsheets, removing EVA layers, and recovering precious metals. Existing technical routes, such as physical methods, pyrolysis chemical methods, and solvent chemical methods, each have their advantages and disadvantages and require further improvement and optimization.
Furthermore, there is illegal recycling and dismantling activity within the industry. Small-scale recycling workshops do not bear environmental treatment costs and can recycle waste modules at higher prices, making it difficult for formal recycling enterprises to profit and disrupting market order. Meanwhile, the lack of policy and standard constraints is also one of the important factors hindering the development of the PV module recycling industry. Currently, there is a lack of a comprehensive standard system for module recycling and processing, as well as supporting systems such as market guidance and incentive policies.
Future Prospects
Despite the challenges, the prospects for the PV module recycling industry remain promising. With continuous technological advancements and gradually improving policies, the industry is expected to gradually become larger and more standardized. In the future, the industry needs to strengthen technological research and innovation, improve recycling efficiency and material utilization rates, and also strengthen policy guidance and supervision to regulate market order and promote healthy development.
In summary, the recycling and disposal of retired PV modules is a long-term and arduous task. Only through joint efforts by the government, enterprises, and all sectors of society can the sustainable development of the PV module recycling industry be promoted and contributions made to environmental protection.
