Recycling of crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar panel waste to modified composite products

Abstract

This investigation highlights effective technology to convert crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar panel waste to composite products. The main problem with recycling photovoltaic modules is to economically separate and extract the materials in the laminated structure. This investigation was attempted to recycle c-Si photovoltaic modules using an unconventional method in which the cumbersome process of separating the materials in the module is avoided altogether. The aluminium frame, outer glass and junction box are removed mechanically and the rest of the c-Si PV module waste is powdered and blended with recycled polypropylene (PP) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) each to make compression moulded tiles. A total of six compression moulded tiles were made. Three tiles from each base material blended in three blend ratios (0%, 10% and 20%) with the powdered PV module waste. The tensile strengths of the tiles were tested and compared. The results prove that tiles made with recycled PP as a base material show very low tensile strength. However, recycled tiles made by blending with LDPE show appreciable tensile strength of more than 8 MPa. These tiles may be used to make furniture.

The Role of Solar Spectral Beam Splitters in Enhancing the Solar-Energy Conversion of Existing PV and PVT Technologies

“…This retrofitting enables PVs to have longer lifespans through thermal management while also increasing the electrical output of the device via spectral modulation. In total, this form of retrofitting can increase the sustainability of such devices by extending their lifetime, mitigating the hazardous downstream end-of-life process [30,31].…”

“…Environmental temperatures can directly influence the efficiencies of solar cells, with studies highlighting that a temperature increase of 1 • C results in efficiency reductions of up to 0.50% [23][24][25][26][27]. In addition to the decrease observed in PV-cell efficiency, elevated device temperatures can give rise to an array of structural and physical flaws within the module [26,[28][29][30]. These flaws encompass phenomena such as the discoloration or darkening of the silicon within cells, the delamination of packaging layers, and the formation of heat-induced "hot spots" on the material [28][29][30].…”

“…In addition to the decrease observed in PV-cell efficiency, elevated device temperatures can give rise to an array of structural and physical flaws within the module [26,[28][29][30]. These flaws encompass phenomena such as the discoloration or darkening of the silicon within cells, the delamination of packaging layers, and the formation of heat-induced "hot spots" on the material [28][29][30]. Consequently, addressing these challenges is imperative to prevent an escalation in PVs' operational costs and to prevent the need for replacement modules.…”

Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation of a Commercial Luminescent Dye for PVT Systems

“…In situ studies conducted reported that for every 1 • C rise in temperature, there is an efficiency decrease of 0.50% [7][8][9][10][11]. Aside from the efficiency of the PV cell being reduced, a wide variety of structural and physical defects can occur within the solar module as the temperature of the device increases [8,[12][13][14]. Such defects include yellowing or browning of the silicon within the cell, delamination of the packing layers, and the presence of scorched "hot spots" on the material [12,14].…”

“…Aside from the efficiency of the PV cell being reduced, a wide variety of structural and physical defects can occur within the solar module as the temperature of the device increases [8,[12][13][14]. Such defects include yellowing or browning of the silicon within the cell, delamination of the packing layers, and the presence of scorched "hot spots" on the material [12,14]. Hence, these challenges must be addressed to prevent a rise in PV exploitation costs that implies purchasing new replacement modules after the damage has occurred.…”