Solek & Degraf join forces to recycle valuable materials like aluminium from PV solar panels

Solek, a leading renewable energy company from the Czech Republic, has formed an alliance with Degraf, a major manager of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Under this alliance, they plan to recover and reuse raw materials (aluminium, copper, etc.) found in photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

This year, they plan to dispatch 8.6 tonnes of photovoltaic modules for environmentally responsible recovery. This initiative aims to recover valuable equipment, parts, and materials such as aluminium and copper cables from these modules.

"Given the increase in the generation of end-of-use photovoltaic panels, we are advancing in the installation of capacities that allow them to be recycled in compliance with the highest international standards. For this reason, the work we are doing with Solek is so important, because it allows us to develop the experience and technology necessary to face the future of an industry as strategic and relevant as this one," commented Gabriela Pérez, general manager of Degraf.

About the alliance – planning & initiatives

Their goal is to boost recycling rates within the industry. According to reports, as of March 2020, Chile had installed 12.5 million solar panels. Projections suggest that by 2046, the amount of photovoltaic waste will reach 120,000 tonnes, marking the first peak of such waste due to panels reaching the end of their 25 to 30-year lifespan.

"In this way, we seek to decompress the problem of the accumulation of photovoltaic waste, which is currently being discarded mainly due to technical failures. Since the first solar panel installed in Chile dates back to 2012, it should only be out of use in approximately 2037," added Pérez.

Additionally, they are working on a pilot project to enhance recycling rates, focusing on the glass components of solar panels. Glass constitutes a significant portion of these modules' structure, making it a key area for improving recyclability percentages.

"We are getting ahead of the norm, applying the available technology to reuse the greatest amount of raw materials that are disposed of as garbage in landfills, and that we currently revalue to manufacture new products," stated Stephanie Crichton, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Solek Chile.