Beyond recycling: Reducing waste from solar modules before they’re even made

Read the full story from U.S. DOE.

More than 85% percent of a solar photovoltaic (PV) module is made of materials we already know how to recycle, like aluminum and glass. However, solar panel recycling—and most recycling overall—is not currently cost-effective or widely adopted. Making solar module recycling ubiquitous will require a combination of technology and policy innovation. To make a larger impact on reducing waste and other environmental impacts from solar technologies, actions need to be taken before a module is even made.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is thinking outside the box, innovating the way we design and manufacture panels so they can produce less waste and use more optimal materials. SETO funds research into replacing expensive, rare, or environmentally harmful materials used in solar module production. For example, some SETO projects are working to replace the expensive silver contacts that carry electricity out of a solar cell with copper or aluminum.