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>They're mostly glass and aluminium which can be and are widely recycled. Can be, not necessarily are. Check "Recycling Process" here: https://www.epa.gov/hw

by jaclaz 4y ago

>They're mostly glass and aluminium which can be and are widely recycled. Can be, not necessarily are. Check "Recycling Process" here: https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling Particularly: >The industry is new and still growing, with researchers examining how to commercialize recycling to economically recover most of the components of a solar panel. Elements of this recycling process can be found in the United States, but it is not yet happening on a large scale. The question revolves around the existence of suitable recycling plants and whether the capacity of these plants is enough (particuarly in times when a "first generation" of panels is progressively approaching an "end of service life"). See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32098575 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32098575

ZeroGravitas 4y ago
Your link says: > Many of these components can be recycled. Glass composes most of the weight of a solar panel (about 75 percent), and glass recycling is already a well-established industry. Other materials that are easily recyclable include the aluminum frame, copper wire, and plastic junction box. Which is almost exactly what I said, with a few extra details and less sarcasm about "chemicals'.
- jaclaz 4y ago
  There are no doubts that some parts (glass, aluminium) can be recycled. The BIG doubt is IF they are actually recycled (as in the main article probably largely "downcycled"). As per the EPA site (and also the other thread I linked to), they are NOT recycled (at the moment), or - even if they are - they are not - yet - recycled on a large scale. Here it is an article by MIT (2021) stating how only about 10% of discarded panels are recycled: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-panels-recycling/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-pa... and, soon, the amount of discarded panels is going to increase.

by jaclaz 4y ago

ZeroGravitas 4y ago

Your link says: > Many of these components can be recycled. Glass composes most of the weight of a solar panel (about 75 percent), and glass recycling is already a well-established industry. Other materials that are easily recyclable include the aluminum frame, copper wire, and plastic junction box. Which is almost exactly what I said, with a few extra details and less sarcasm about "chemicals'.

jaclaz 4y ago
There are no doubts that some parts (glass, aluminium) can be recycled. The BIG doubt is IF they are actually recycled (as in the main article probably largely "downcycled"). As per the EPA site (and also the other thread I linked to), they are NOT recycled (at the moment), or - even if they are - they are not - yet - recycled on a large scale. Here it is an article by MIT (2021) stating how only about 10% of discarded panels are recycled: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-panels-recycling/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/19/1032215/solar-pa... and, soon, the amount of discarded panels is going to increase.