In a context of accelerated growth of renewable energies and their consequent technological waste, two companies from Mendoza decided to anticipate the problem: Solhé, specialized in solar energy, and Reciclarg, dedicated to electronic waste treatment, started a pioneering project in Argentina for the recycling of disused solar panels.
The objective is clear: to take advantage of the valuable components of the panels —such as silicon, aluminum, glass, and metals— and prevent these devices from ending up in landfills or open dumps. The initiative, currently in a pilot phase, aims to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive solar recycling system in the country.
“We want to give utility to a material with great potential. Although it is currently a test, our goal is to create a responsible and sustainable system. That’s why we chose to work with Reciclarg, a company with extensive experience in electronic recycling,” explained Nicolás Giorlando, partner and general manager of Solhé.
## From Waste to Resource: a Circular Economy with a Local Stamp
Farid Nallim, co-founder and CEO of Reciclarg, emphasized the need to act now in the face of a growing phenomenon:
“As the solar industry advances, so do its waste. With this project, we seek to recover useful materials and reintroduce them into the production chain, generating green employment and promoting a circular economy.”
The process involves dismantling the panels and mechanically separating their layers: glass (representing 70% of the total), aluminum from the frame, silicon from the cells, and metals like silver, tin, and copper. These inputs can be reused in various industries, reducing the extraction of virgin resources and environmental impact.
## Five Stages towards a Scalable Model
The project will be developed in five phases over an estimated period of 6 to 12 months. Each stage includes technical, regulatory, and environmental aspects:
1. **Research** of technologies and treatment methods.
2. **Development of prototypes**, with panels provided by partner companies.
3. **Implementation of a pilot plant**, within Reciclarg’s infrastructure.
4. **Technical and economic validation** of the process.
5. **Progressive scaling** of the model.
The promoters emphasize that each stage includes environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance, following safety standards and environmental care.
## A Model for the Entire Region
Although born as a local initiative, the project has a regional outlook: the promoters hope that the experience can be replicated in other provinces and countries in Latin America, where formal systems for solar panel recycling do not yet exist.
“We are facing an emerging environmental issue, and we want to be part of the solution before it becomes a crisis. This project aims to transform waste into opportunities,” concluded both companies.
## Innovative: China Revolutionizes Solar Panel Recycling
Renewable energies have grown exponentially in recent decades, but they have also faced significant challenges. One of the main problems is the management of solar panel waste, whose recycling is costly and complex. However, a Chinese company has found an innovative solution that could change the global energy landscape.
Solar panels are an effective alternative to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. However, over time they lose efficiency and need to be replaced. The problem lies in the fact that while aluminum and glass can be easily recycled, materials like silicon and silver pose technical and economic challenges for their recovery.
Currently, recycling processes require extremely high temperatures and aggressive chemical methods, which increase operation costs and generate negative environmental impacts. Faced with this scenario, the industry was looking for more sustainable alternatives for the reuse of these essential materials.
Source: Memo.
