The recycling of PV panels

It is logical to ask the question about the environmental impact of photovoltaic installations.

We tell you all about it!

How to remove photovoltaic panels? The easiest way is to call the company that installed your solar panels on your roof.
Many collection points for used solar panels exist in all regions.

How is a solar panel recycled?

The recycling of solar panels is organized in several steps:

The aluminum frame is separated from the rest of the panel. It is one of the most profitable metals when looking at recycled raw materials. It represents about 10% of the total weight of the panel.
The cables and the electrical box are recovered. They are directed to other waste treatment lines. The copper that makes them up is sought after.
Then, the panels are cut into strips thanks to various crushers. This allows the recovery of glass, composites and silicon. Each crushed element then joins a recycling channel of its own.

Several metals such as copper and silver are present in very small quantities in photovoltaic panels. They are mechanically and chemically separated from the rest of the elements in order to be melted down and reused.

The silicon used in the panels (the main component of sand and the most abundant element in the earth's crust after oxygen), can be recycled and reused several times in the panels.

Do solar panels pollute?

You may hear some people say that solar panels pollute. In reality, their impact on the environment is largely positive.

If you look at their entire life cycle, photovoltaic panels have a positive impact on the environment. They produce far more green energy than is required to manufacture them.

A solar panel can compensate for its energy debt in a few years of operation, over a lifespan that can extend to more than 30 years.

The regulatory framework

The recycling of photovoltaic solar panels is covered by the European Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

In France, the decree of May 9, 2017 specifies that "the producer is required to recover the elements of its 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.