Recycling waste of solar panels. students: Alaa & saed

With the enormous growth in the development and utilization of solar energy resources, the spread of waste of solar panels has also grown and become problematic while the current research on solar panels Focus on how to improve the efficiency of production capacity and ignore the whole issue of dismantling and recycling Solar panels that are considered to have "reached the final stage of their life".

some of the challenges that we are facing :

• high waste generation per year such as silicon , glass and heavy metals.
• limited recycling infrastructure : there are insufficient facilities and technologies specifically designed for recycling solar panels leading to low recycling rates.
• enviromental contamination : disposal of waste materials can lead to soil and water contamination especially from substances like cadmium and lead that are used in some solar panels.
• economic costs : high management and recycling costs.

the main impacts are : pollution , resources depletion , carbon footprint , increased costs , health risks. some historical facts and current waste generation rates : According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), solar panel waste is expected to reach approximately 1.7-8 million metric tons by 2030 and could increase to 60-78 million metric tons by 2050 .

Currently, the recycling rates for solar panels are relatively low. In the European Union, which has more established recycling infrastructure, about 10% of solar panels are recycled at the end of their life cycle. In other regions, this rate can be significantly lower.

Component-Specific Waste:

• Silicon: The most significant component of solar panels is silicon. Each panel contains about 1.6-2.6 kg of silicon, depending on the type and size of the panel.
• Glass: Glass makes up a considerable portion of solar panels, with about 70-80% of the panel's weight. For instance, a typical 60-cell silicon module weighing around 18-20 kg would have approximately 12-16 kg of glass .
• Metals: Solar panels also contain various metals, including aluminum (for frames), copper (in wiring), and small amounts of silver, tin, and lead. These metals collectively make up a few percent of the panel's weight but are critical from a recycling and environmental impact perspective.