How are photovoltaic panels recycled at the end of their life?

From WEEE collection to recoverable fractions: the complete journey of a decommissioned photovoltaic module and the role of dedicated recycling facilities.

A photovoltaic panel produces energy for 25–30 years. Then comes the end of its life: the module loses efficiency, is replaced, and becomes waste to be managed. With the wave of installations from the 2000s approaching decommissioning, the incoming volumes are enormous, and photovoltaic panel recycling is moving from a niche market to an industrial necessity. The good news is that a decommissioned module is not just any waste: it is a concentrate of glass, aluminum, silicon, and copper, and dedicated recycling lines, like those designed and built by CAMEC, recover up to 99% of its weight.

How many photovoltaic panels will reach the end of their life?

International projections estimate approximately 78 million tons of photovoltaic modules will reach end-of-life worldwide by 2050 (source: IRENA). For Italy, one of the European markets with the oldest installed base, industry estimates indicate approximately 4.5 million tons by the same date (Source: Research by the Universities of Catania and Palermo). These are numbers that no supply chain can absorb without dedicated facilities. Furthermore, landfill disposal is prohibited and would waste materials with a tangible market value.

What does the law require for decommissioned photovoltaic panels?

Photovoltaic panels are classified as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) pursuant to European Directive 2012/19/EU, implemented in Italy by Legislative Decree 49/2014. In summary, the framework includes:

• Extended producer responsibility: those who place modules on the market must ensure their return and treatment at the end of their life, directly or through collective systems;

• Requirement for separate collection and recovery at facilities authorized to treat WEEE;

• Minimum material recovery and recycling targets, which require technologies capable of separating high-purity fractions.

For treatment plant operators and consortia, the question is not whether to treat photovoltaic panels, but which technology to use to do so efficiently and compliantly.

Which photovoltaic panels can be recycled?

A standard photovoltaic module weighs approximately 20 kg and is composed, on average, of glass (73%), plastic (12%), aluminum (10%), silicon (3%), and other metals (2%). Dedicated recycling lines process the types that cover almost all of the installed base:

• Monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon modules with a glass-plus-backsheet structure, the most common configuration;

• Glass-on-glass modules, including bifacial photovoltaic panels: removing the second layer of glass requires a dedicated module from the line, developed by CAMEC in collaboration with Ecoprogetti.

  Thin-film or amorphous silicon modules and concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) remain outside the scope of these lines, as they require different processes.

How does a solar panel recycling plant work?

The reference process is entirely mechanical: no combustion, chemical agents, or process emissions are involved.

The CAMEC line processes the module in ten phases:

1. Photovoltaic panel optical system: recognizes the size and orientation of the module.

2. Removal of the junction box (J-box).

3. Removal of the aluminum frame.

4. Module overturned to expose it to the next phase.

5. Glass removal: the patented delaminator separates 100% of the glass from the laminate.

6. Glass screening into three particle size fractions (fine, medium, coarse).

7. Laminate shredding with a GRR280 single-rotor granulator, followed by a second pass in a turbine.

8. Separation of the fractions on a densimetric table.

9. Collection of the output fractions.

10. Filtration of the process air.

The line is available in two configurations: 60 panels/hour (approximately 1.5 t/h, 130 kW, 500 m²) and 120 panels/hour (approximately 3 t/h, 160 kW, 600 m²), both of which can be operated by two operators. Optional features include dedicated recovery of J-boxes and aluminum profiles and automated loading.

Caption: CAMEC photovoltaic recycling plant in operation

A useful clarification for navigating the supply chain: CAMEC does not engage in recycling. It designs and builds turnkey systems for managers and recovery operators to recycle photovoltaic panels.

What materials are recovered from a photovoltaic panel?

Yield is the criterion used to judge the quality of a recycling line. The indicative recovery values ​​for monocrystalline and polycrystalline modules are:

Please note: the percentages shown are indicative and may vary depending on the material treated and the operating conditions.

Overall, the line recovers up to 99% of the module's weight. The highest-value fractions are also extracted from the laminates: the silver from the contacts and the copper from the interconnects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to evaluate a photovoltaic panel recycling system?

CAMEC technicians are available to help you identify the configuration best suited to your volumes and flows. Contact our team for personalized technical advice.