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International experience in the recycling of solar panels
https://doi.org/10.15518/isjaee.2026.01.124-141
Abstract
The rapidly developing solar energy industry, taking into account the global trend towards reducing the carbon footprint of production, requires a transition to maximizing the recycling of solar panels. This pressing issue necessitates the study of global recycling practices and the analysis of relevant methods. To this end, we have identified the main areas and techniques for recycling solar panels, based on the experiences of various countries that actively utilize solar energy. The functions of the largest recycling companies have identified the primary methods for separating solar energy waste, extracting valuable components, and reusing them in production. For example, CdTe module technologies have been developed that allow for a recovery rate of almost 90 % for glass and approximately 95 % for semiconductor materials by weight. However, the analysis revealed a critical lack of cost-effective recycling methods for thin-film modules (CIGS, a-Si) on an industrial scale, as well as insufficient maturity of chemical delamination technologies for separating polymer layers. This helps to reduce the environmental impact of the production process, increase its economic efficiency, and save 50 % of the material.
About the Authors
L. R. Gainullina
Kazan State Power Engineering University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Gainullina Leysan Raisovna, Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering Ecology and Occupational Safety, Candidate of Technical Sciences
420066, Kazan, Krasnoselskaya Street, 51
R. N. Pigilova
Kazan State Power Engineering University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Pigilova Rosa Nailevna, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Engineering Ecology and Occupational Safety
420066, Kazan, Krasnoselskaya Street, 51
F. M. Filippova
Kazan State Power Engineering University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Farida Mizkhatovna Filippova, Associate Professor at the Department of Engineering Ecology and Occupational Safety, PhD in Chemical Sciences
420066, Kazan, Krasnoselskaya Street, 51
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Review
For citations:
Gainullina L.R., Pigilova R.N., Filippova F.M. International experience in the recycling of solar panels. Alternative Energy and Ecology (ISJAEE). 2026;(1):124-141. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15518/isjaee.2026.01.124-141
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