Beyond assumptions: Experimental characterization of end-of-life photovoltaic panels composition for recycling in Australia

End-of-life management of solar photovoltaic modules poses a significant problem in countries such as Australia, which is one of the fastest growing installers of solar power worldwide, but there has been essentially no legislation implemented regarding end-of-life PV (photovoltaics). It is necessary to know the composition of the solar panel as this knowledge allows the economic viability of recycling processes to be assessed. Most studies estimate the material composition from a product datasheet or cite the composition data from another paper, but this is less accurate than experimentally characterised module composition results. In this work a number of characterisation analyses were made to assess the profitability and recycling potential of PV modules. Twelve PV panels made by different manufacturers were selected. The following materials were analysed: aluminium, glass, laminate – EVA (copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate) and solar cell composition. The findings reveal that despite variability in material composition across different panels, the recycled materials meet raw material production requirements, demonstrating the recyclability of solar panel components. A consistent year-on-year decline in silver content was observed in solar panels, signalling potential decreases in economic revenue for recyclers.