As the world ramps up its solar energy capacity, the question of what to do with end-of-life panels has loomed large. A team at the University of Newcastle in Australia has now provided a massive piece of the puzzle.
The researchers have demonstrated that 97.6 percent of the silver inside old solar panels can be recovered in minutes using a novel, acid-free mechanical process.
A Cleaner Way to Recycle
Currently, the industry relies heavily on acid leaching to recover valuable metals, a process that presents its own environmental hazards. This new method eliminates the need for toxic chemicals, making the lifecycle of solar panels genuinely green from start to finish.
Since silver is a costly component of solar manufacturing, this breakthrough could also lower the production costs of new panels, further accelerating the adoption of renewable energy worldwide.
Sources: University of Newcastle Research Reports
