The goal of this project was to develop an environmentally and economically feasible process to recycle thick film (c-Si) solar panels based on a delamination process. Thus, an easy and inexpensive four-step delamination process was developed. First, the backsides of the modules were subjected to a mechanical pre-treatment, in which the surface of the back sheet was milled in a specific pattern. This pre-treatment allows a homogeneous distribution of the chemical solvent in the next process step to dissolve the EVA encapsulant at room temperature. Following a cleaning and drying process, the modules were subjected to machine-assisted mechanical separation, involving a wire cutter at room temperature. In the end, it was possible to obtain the glass intact, with virtually no change to its quality (e.g. composition and transparency). Separately, the silicon remained encapsulated in the EVA and could be used in pyrometallurgy for different purposes. Parallel pyrolysis and incineration experiments were conducted to achieve the same delamination but were less successful at preserving the glass intact.

As part of the project, there was a techno/economic assessment made, which included a market research and MFCA. The method proved to be feasible technically; however, current conditions in Germany don’t allow for it, as the number of panels that are available for recycling is too low for the project to be viable at present.