Solar & Photovoltaic (PV) panels recycling plant

The recycling line for solar panel recycling plant solar and photovoltaic modules enables the recovery and reuse of materials from end-of-life solar panels, such as silicon, glass, wiring, plastic, and aluminum.

Thanks to an advanced industrial process, the system efficiently recovers the components of photovoltaic panels. Each module can be broken down into reusable resources: approximately 15 kg of glass, 1 kg of silicon powder for the steel industry, 3.5 kg of aluminum, 300 g of plastic, and copper wiring. The fully automated process employs delamination technologies to separate components precisely, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

The solar panel recycling plant SOLAR product line by Stokkermill aims to enhance the quality of recovered materials—accounting for up to 99% of the total panel weight—while drastically reducing manual operations and energy costs. Notably, energy consumption per module never exceeds 1 kWh, ensuring high efficiency with minimal environmental impact.

This result stems from years of research and development and continuous technological updates, enabling the treatment of polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and even non-standard-sized panels. Furthermore, the system eliminates the need for costly manual removal of aluminum frames, ensuring higher productivity and reduced operational costs.

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                                                                            Recoverable Materials from Solar and Photovoltaic Modules

ALUMINUM

GLASS

SILICON

EVA

COPPER

Aluminum: The Stokkermill recycling system does not require the removal of the aluminum frame, drastically reducing panel processing times. The quality of the output materials is excellent. Aluminum, for example, will be ready for the furnace, free of pollutants and of the correct size for downstream metallurgical processing. The aluminum fraction obtained also meets the requirements to be classified as End of Waste. Maximum material recovery and minimum energy impact.

18% Recycled aluminum - - - 30-70 mm profile size                      *Value refers to 1 ton

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Glass: The glass resulting from the treatment operations has different grain sizes and qualities. The larger glass is extremely clean. The smaller fraction is still used in the ceramics industry, where it can be used for the production of high-quality silicon steels. Both fractions have a low iron content.

70% Recycled glass - - - 4-10mm glass size                                       *Value refers to 1 ton

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Silicon: This is an End of Waste fraction with a high concentration of silicon, containing traces of silver and other valuable metals, which makes it suitable for recovery through chemical-physical processes. It is also used as an additive in steelmaking, as a raw material for ceramics and glass, as a component in abrasives and refractory materials, and as a base for the production of metallurgical silicon or semiconductors.

8–10% Recovered silicon - - - < 0.6 mm silicon size                        *Value refers to 1 ton

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EVA: The polymeric backing sheet and the EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) fraction are recovered at the end of the process. These fractions are essentially free of glass and other pollutants and have a good calorific value. In special applications, it is possible to reduce the EVA granules to a size of a few millimeters.

5% recycled EVA - - - variable size                                                            *Value refers to 1 ton

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Copper: Copper is a strategic metal, valuable and easily reusable in industry. In solar panel recycling, Stokkermill leverages over 20 years of experience in metal separation, using reliable equipment and technologies dedicated to the treatment of conductive fractions. This allows us to optimize copper recovery and obtain a high-quality final material through a simple and efficient process.

1.2% Copper recovered - - -                                                                          *Value refers to 1 ton

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Altre frazioni: Possono includere polveri metalliche, la cui composizione varia in base al tipo di pannello trattato.

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Energy Efficiency and Reduced Emissions - Less than 1 kWh per module

An essential aspect of the recycling process is energy consumption. Often overlooked, it is a critical factor in determining the overall energy balance and environmental impact of a product from production to end-of-life. Complex and energy-intensive processes can negate the ecological and economic benefits of recycling.

Stokkermill has developed solutions to reduce energy costs to less than 1 kWh per module, equivalent to approximately €0.15 ($0.20 USD) per unit, based on average EU/US tariffs. This achievement is made possible by high-efficiency machinery and meticulous system design, maximizing performance while minimizing consumption.

Atmospheric emissions are limited to the recovery of process dust, preventing dispersion into the environment and simplifying authorization procedures, which can be challenging for innovative technologies.

Flexibility and Customization

The flexibility of Stokkermill systems allows for tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of end-users in terms of productivity and the types of materials to be processed. With targeted adjustments, the SOLAR range can be configured to handle not only photovoltaic panels but also electronic materials, aluminum profiles, and lightweight scrap.

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