Recycling solar panels is the process of extracting useful components from destroyed panels so they can be repurposed in other goods or uses. Managing the recycling and disposal of solar panels that have reached the end of their useful lives has become more important as the world has come to rely more on solar energy. Gathering and transporting used panels to designated recycling facilities is usually the first step in the recycling process. The materials like glass, silicon, aluminum, and other metals are then separated and recovered from the panels using a variety of processes used by these facilities, including mechanical shredding, heat processing, and chemical treatments. By limiting the need for virgin resources and the environmental impact, these recovered materials can be used to create new solar panels or other products.
United States Solar Panel Recycling Market Driving Factors and Challenges
Drivers: The market for recycled solar panels in the US is expanding due to a number of causes. First off, since solar energy systems are being adopted nationwide, the number of solar panels that are nearing the end of their useful lives has increased accordingly. As these panels get older, there is an increasing need for effective recycling programs to control how they are disposed of.
Secondly, there is a big impact from regulatory actions and environmental regulations. The implementation of recycling procedures is incentivized for solar panel producers and project developers by government legislation and policies that support sustainability and waste management. By establishing requirements for recycling procedures and promoting compliance, these regulations foster an atmosphere that is conducive to the expansion of the recycling sector.
Challenges:
Elevated expense of recycling process: Glass, metals, and other uncommon elements must be separated from solar panels using specialist equipment, which can be expensive to maintain. When it comes to the recycling process, it is also costly to hire competent labor.Solar cells only use clean energy and don't release any pollutants into the atmosphere, but they do require the usage of some hazardous elements during production, which has an effect on the environment. Furthermore, recycling of hazardous byproducts from the life cycle of solar cells is required.
Impact of COVID-19 on United States Solar Panel Recycling Market
The US market for recycled solar panels was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought up challenges and changes in the industry. Project delays, production halts, and disruptions in the supply chain were some of the main effects of the global application of lockdown measures. These disruptions affected the processes for recycling solar panels that have reached the end of their useful lives as well as the production of new solar panels. In addition, shifts in investment patterns in the renewable energy industries brought about by economic worries and lower consumer spending during the pandemic affected the need for recycling services.
United States Solar Panel Recycling Market Key Players:
The market study provides market data by competitive landscape, revenue analysis, market segments and detailed analysis of key market players are; Aurubis AG, Canadian Solar Inc, ECS Refining, Envela Corporation, First Solar, Inc, Hanwha Group, JA Solar Co Ltd, Sharp Corporation, Silrec Corporation, Trina Solar, Yingli Energy Co.
United States Solar Panel Recycling Market Segmentation:
By Process: Based on the Process, United States Solar Panel Recycling Market is segmented as; Thermal, Mechanical, Laser.
By Type: Based on the Type, United States Solar Panel Recycling Market is segmented as; Crystalline Silicon, Thin Film.
By Region: This research also includes data for East, West, South, North
This study also encompasses various drivers and restraining factors of this market for the forecast period. Various growth opportunities are also discussed in the report.