IIT Mandi researchers develop solutions for effective recycling of solar cells

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi in its latest research has unveiled the benefits of recycling end-of-life solar cells. The research team devised industrial solutions for the effective recycling of solar cell components and materials.

The research was led by Satvasheel Ramesh Powar, associate professor at, school of mechanical and materials engineering, IIT Mandi. The research study has been published in the Resources, Conservation, and Recycling journal. The paper was co-authored by Satvasheel Ramesh Powar and Atul Dhar, both associate professors in the school of mechanical and materials engineering, along with their research scholar Shweta Singh.

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The researchers' study demonstrates that recycling these solar cell modules facilitates the recovery of valuable resources such as cadmium, tellurium, indium, gallium, and germanium, which are in high demand within the industry and have limited reserves.

The IIT Mandi study emphasises the reduction in environmental impact achievable through recycling by comparing the process of extracting and refining glass, metals, and semiconductor materials from c-Si and CdTe PV modules with conventional mining and production techniques.

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One of the key implications of the research is the need for governments and industry stakeholders to adopt eco-friendly certifications and incentives to promote recycling and mineral recovery within the PV industry.

The researchers have proposed reimagining the design of PV modules to incorporate sustainable materials and adhere to the "design to dismantle" principle. Innovative business models for managing and financing PV waste disposal, along with investments in reusing substandard modules.

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IIT Mandi researchers have developed a recycling methodology that follows the principles of reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair, refurbish, redesign, remanufacture, and recycle. This holistic approach seeks to minimize waste and energy consumption during the end-of-life processing of solar PV modules.