If there is one phrase in the air these days, it’s electronic scrap. Even so, the niche market of PV panels doesn’t get much attention, observes Jan Clyncke, managing director of non-profit compliance scheme PV Cycle. Recycling, he asserts, is a numbers game. ‘We would love to scale up operations but our members lack the necessary tonnes to do so.’ He discusses this frustrating ‘chicken-and-the-egg’ scenario with Recycling International.
How do you look back on 2022?
‘I’m very satisfied. We hit a new record by processing roughly 10 000 tonnes last year and it’s a meaningful step forward. But let’s not forget we’re talking about a product stream with a lifecycle of up to 20 years and some new models have an even longer life. Solar panels are still a maturing market, with little coming to recyclers.’
What targets have you set for 2023 and beyond?
‘We want to reinvent ourselves. Our team is planning to launch a fun and comprehensive video series to educate people about PV module best practices, what’s inside a panel, how can it be dismantled, who is involved and so on.
Another main objective is to help establish a reuse standard for PV panels. Right now, they can be sold as second-hand panels without any official safety or quality check. This is not responsible because a complex product needs proper guidelines.
Beyond that, we’re lobbying EU legislators for the existing WEEE Directive to establish targets specifically for our industry. Independent extended producer responsibility rules for PV modules would be an ideal addition and we’ve just written a position paper with recommendations.’
Are you satisfied with how PV modules are being recycled?
‘Current technology is quite good and I’m satisfied with the output rate, which is at around 95%. Most material is going for energy recovery with only a small portion being mechanically recycled. What is really hurting the industry is a lack of tonnes.
If we had a guarantee of, say, at least 30 000 tonnes a year that could grow to around 50 000 tonnes by 2030, that would be great. But we’ve got maybe 1 000 tonnes being processed in Germany, another 3 000 or 4 000 in Belgium and France. The volumes are a drop in the ocean compared to consumer e-scrap figures.’
Read the full interview in our upcoming issue!
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