The technology of obtaining electricity from the sun is developing rapidly around the world – including in Poland, making the issue of effective recycling of photovoltaic panels increasingly important for environmental reasons. We explain what happens to used photovoltaic panels, where to donate used photovoltaic panels and the cost of recycling photovoltaic panels.
After what time do you have to dispose of photovoltaic panels?
Photovoltaic panels are characterized by exceptional durability. Modern solar cells maintain high efficiency – at 90% of the initial – for about 25-30 years. Necessary to achieve such longevity is proper care of the panels, including regular servicing of the installation.
Disposal of photovoltaics is necessary after the indicated time, as well as in the case of panels damaged during transport or destroyed by fortuitous events. Whatever the reason, sooner or later the life of every photovoltaic panel comes to an end. And this, according to the law, requires their proper disposal.
Disposal of photovoltaic panels. What to do with old photovoltaic panels?
Although many investors do not think about where to dispose of photovoltaic panels in Poland after completing a PV installation, this knowledge may come in handy when they are potentially damaged or after years of system operation. The current growth in PV installations means that PV panels will only be massively dismantled in at least a dozen years.
In Poland, the disposal of photovoltaic panels is regulated by law. What does the disposal of photovoltaic panels look like? Used or damaged panels cannot simply be disposed of in the regular trash (for glass, metal or plastic), nor can they be disposed of as bulky waste. Instead, they should be handled like other old or broken electrical appliances.
Where do you dispose of broken and used photovoltaic panels?
According to the regulations under which the disposal of photovoltaic panels should take place, like other electro-waste, they should be handed over to special collection centers for this type of waste. This way we can be sure that the panels will be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
And who is responsible and pays for the disposal of photovoltaic panels? Although there are currently no regulations clarifying this issue, according to EU regulations, this obligation should fall on the manufacturer. Reputable manufacturers of photovoltaic panels provide free collection and disposal of photovoltaic panels when they reach the end of their useful life. Otherwise, the disposal of photovoltaics is charged to the owner – fortunately, the costs are not high.
What happens to used photovoltaic panels? Recycling of photovoltaic panels
Recycling of photovoltaic panels takes place in several stages. Used photovoltaic panels should first be dismantled, separating components such as cables and junction boxes.
In the next step, aluminum and glass components should be removed. In the case of aluminum frames and protective glass, it is possible to recycle photovoltaic panels, which can be easily melted down and reused. The efficiency of this method is more than 90%.
Silicon wafers can also be reused, depending on the degree of wear and tear. After selecting and dividing them into damaged and those in good condition, they are remelted or reused once in new photovoltaic modules (after appropriate processing).
Finally, thermal disposal of photovoltaic panels is carried out, or more precisely, those parts of them that cannot be reused. They are burned at high temperatures – at 500°C the plastics evaporate, while metals and glass remain.
How much does it cost to dispose of photovoltaic panels and who pays for it?
The cost of disposal of photovoltaic panels looks similar to that of other electro-waste. The weight of the disposed items is taken into account. The approximate cost is PLN 1.5/kg, as long as the waste is delivered to the collection point by the customer. If photovoltaic panels need to be picked up, the cost of disposal increases by the price of the commute (about PLN 2.5/km). This allows you to calculate roughly how much it costs to dispose of one photovoltaic panel. For a 4 kW installation, the cost will be about 300-400 zlotys (for example, 12 modules at about 20 kg each x 1.50 zlotys/kg), and for a 10 kW installation (for example, 30 modules at about 20 kg each x 1.5 zlotys/kg) – about 900-1000 zlotys.
Pricing is influenced by both the number of cast elements and how much one photovoltaic panel weighs. The weight varies depending on the type of panel – for example, monocrystalline ones are lighter than polycrystalline ones, so their disposal will be cheaper.
