China It is a leading country in the production of solar panelsBut Spain is about to make history with a new initiative. The discovery of solar panels in an unusual place in France seems like an everyday occurrence next to the project the European country is working on. The past decades have been energetically characterized by the undisputed leadership of China in the production of photovoltaic structures. A privileged role that has come to the world to change the way of generating and producing renewable energy.
Technological innovation, huge investments in research and development and the ability to scale have made this possible the Asian giant dominate the photovoltaic panel market, a constantly growing industry. At the beginning of the 21st century, Beijing It was already an essential player in the solar energy market, with limited production capacity and rudimentary technologies. However, with the help of favorable government policies and investments in research and development, the Asian country has managed to make progress in both efficiency and technology.
Currently, companies from Asia such as Jinko Solar, Trina Solar j LONGi solar energy have achieved notable positions in the ranking of the main manufacturers solar cells global. Now, after years with eyes focused the Asian market, Spain becomes the central axis of solar energy with a revolutionary project.
China excels in solar energy, but what Spain wants to do with solar panels is on a different level
Recycle the photovoltaic panels It’s quite a challenge and the Spanish nation has decided that this will be taken over by Teruel with a groundbreaking initiative. While solar structures are seen as an impressive solution to transition away from fossil fuels, they also generate waste. In fact, in recent years we have witnessed the emergence of several studies focusing on the recycling of photovoltaic cells. There is talk of silver mining and even the development of a fully recycled solar panel.
According to estimates of IRENAwe will have to deal with approximately 78 million photovoltaic waste by the year 2050. For this apparently tragic scenario, a startup Aragonese seems to have found the solution: the first recycling center. In Archbishop’s Albacetein the province Teruelthe European Photovoltaic Recycling Center (CERFO). A groundbreaking proposal aimed at recycling of solar cells of polycrystalline silicon at the end of its life.
The plan is to open a recycling plant on a 6,000-meter plot by 2025. This will have a material recovery system for re-entering the market. The initiative was promoted by Iber Sustainability and Development (Ibersyd)that has invested 2.5 million euros in the creation and construction of CERFO. In addition, the investment has received support from the Government of Aragon through the Assistance Program for Industry and SMEs in Aragon (PAIP).
Spain is working on a project that even surprises Beijing
Photovoltaic waste will be processed in this recycling factory. For example, photovoltaic structures that no longer work after reaching the end of their life or intercepting defects. The recycling method involves physical, thermal and chemical treatments to recover elements such as glass, aluminum, copper, silver and silicon. CERFO It is estimated that up to 90% of the material can be recovered from each solar cell.
The recycling factory CERFO solar panels will be the first to fully recover a component as complex as silicon, thus marking the appearance of this groundbreaking factory in the Iberian country resonates everywhere as a milestone Europe. As this project takes shape, China is experiencing a resounding decline.