Automated Line for Photovoltaic Recycling and Valorization

Recycle panels, recover materials, create value  

The photovoltaic market is undergoing a profound transformation. While until a few years ago the focus was exclusively on installation, today the real industrial challenge has shifted to end-of-life module management.

Bifacial panels (glass-glass), in particular, pose complex challenges for their treatment — as do those damaged by environmental agents, glass breakage, EVA delamination, microcracks in the cells, or interconnect corrosion.

CAMEC responds to this need with a recycling and valorization plant equipped with a patented glass removal system, specifically designed and manufactured to transform exhausted or damaged modules into high-purity secondary raw materials, ready to re-enter the industrial supply chain and generate concrete economic value.

The Patented Glass Removal System: The Heart of the Process  

The patented glass removal system is the key component of the plant: a delaminator that allows for the 100% separation of glass from the photovoltaic laminate, ensuring the integrity of the other material fractions.

In the case of bifacial modules (glass/glass), it safely and efficiently removes both layers of glass, allowing access to the valuable fractions contained inside the cells.

Beyond Glass: The Extraction of Silicon, Copper, and Silver

The true competitive advantage of the CAMEC plant lies in the post-glass removal treatment.

Thanks to an advanced shredding and separation process, we are able to isolate extremely high-purity fractions:

• Silicon: Recovered with a 98% purity grade, ready to be reintegrated into the semiconductor sector.
• Precious Metals: From the cells isolated in this way, it is possible to recover the silver present in the conductive contacts, while copper is extracted from the interconnection ribbons and the panel's electrical circuits.
• Aluminum: The frames are automatically removed and sent to foundries with 100% purity.

This approach transforms complex waste into a literal urban mine, guaranteeing a conversion rate of up to 99%.

Compactness and Efficiency: The Competitive Edge for Your Business  

We know that floorspace in a plant is a precious resource.

For this reason, we have designed a line that reduces the required footprint by up to 20% compared to competitors, with a simultaneous reduction in operating costs of up to 30% and energy consumption of up to 40%.

Despite its compact dimensions, the plant offers:

• High productivity: configurations of 60 or 120 panels/hour.
• Payback in 1-2 years, thanks to low operating costs and the high valorization of all output fractions.
• Low-cost spare parts and reduced maintenance.
• Operator safety and full traceability.
• CE marking, compliant with EU regulations.

Photovoltaic recycling is not just a management cost: it is a concrete industrial opportunity. The CAMEC plant transforms end-of-life panels into high-purity secondary raw materials, opening up new business possibilities for those operating in the recycling sector in Italy, Europe, and international markets. 

Do you want to discover how to valorize every single fraction of end-of-life photovoltaic panels?