Possibility of recycling silicon PV modules

A method of economically recovering silicon wafers from x-Si PV modules is presented. Since the wafer cost is estimated at about half the total material cost of a silicon PV module, there may be economic benefits from recycling. In addition, recycling silicon PV modules allows reclamation of the glass substrate and prevents disposal of potentially hazardous materials such as silver and lead from the wafer contact and interconnect systems. The major problem for recycling silicon wafers from end-of-life devices has been cleanly separating the wafers from the EVA polymer encapsulating material. This paper describes the cost effective recycling of functioning x-Si PV cells after thermal decomposition of EVA in an inert gas atmosphere. Process costs are estimated at US $0.20 per 10 cm x 10 cm recovered cell.