Photograph: SOLARCYCLE
Photo voltaic panel recycler SOLARCYCLE and Arizona State College simply proved that photo voltaic panels made with recycled glass work simply in addition to new ones.
In a brand new collaboration with Arizona State’s Ira A. Fulton Faculties of Engineering, the photo voltaic recycling firm created a prototype photo voltaic panel – what they name a “mini module”– utilizing 50% recycled glass pulled from end-of-life photo voltaic panels. The mini module matched the efficiency of panels made completely with new supplies.
The analysis was led by Dr. Zachary Holman, Arizona State’s vice dean for analysis and innovation, and his crew. Researcher Kate Fisher constructed and examined two units of panels: one utilizing solely new glass, and the opposite utilizing a 50/50 combine of latest and recycled glass cullet. The recycled materials got here from panels processed utilizing SOLARCYCLE’s expertise.
Utilizing industry-standard energy conversion effectivity checks, the outcomes have been clear: There was no statistically important distinction in how the 2 varieties of panels carried out.
“That is precisely the form of consequence we hope for when {industry} and academia collaborate,” stated Holman. “Collectively, we proved that you simply don’t must sacrifice efficiency to construct photo voltaic panels extra sustainably.”
This isn’t only a one-off science experiment. SOLARCYCLE says the recycled-glass panel is a part of a much bigger plan to make photo voltaic manufacturing extra round – and fewer wasteful. The corporate plans to construct a photo voltaic glass manufacturing facility in Cedartown, Georgia, subsequent to its current recycling manufacturing facility. It’ll be the primary on the planet to make use of recycled cullet like this at industrial scale.
“By proving we will manufacture new photo voltaic panels utilizing recycled supplies that produce at peak efficiency ranges, we’re taking a significant step towards making the photo voltaic {industry} extra sustainable, scalable, and self-reliant,” stated SOLARCYCLE’s CTO and co-founder, Pablo Dias.
Learn extra: SOLARCYCLE’s new plant will recycle 25% of all US end-of-life photo voltaic panels in 2030
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