Scientists in India have proposed to use solar modules at the end of their lifecycle as a building material for low-cost small housing units. With solar module recycling currently not viable economically, the researchers said their approach makes conventional solar panels into BIPV products without any modifications.
  • meyotchEnglish
    5·
    11 months ago

    I have high hopes that the recycling market will catch up. There is strong economic incentive. Solar panels are a somewhat ‘concentrated’ (value-dense) form of garbage with a known form factor, so the costs of recycling can be predicted and the process optimized.

    It will require some capital input, but because the end of life can be very reliably projected, the return can be calculated. Most reports I’ve seen say the equation is favorable.

    However, this is also intriguing from an architectural standpoint. Use the unique color and texture of the panels as a design element has some possibilities. I’m imagining cutting the panels into ‘shakes’ and using them as a siding material.

      • schmorpEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        That’s the sad thing. All the fancy ‘recycling’ we are being sold as argument to buy more stuff is just science fiction, and really stuff just ends up as building material, in the best of cases. Mostly our trash just pollutes poor countries somewhere where nobody is looking. Yay innovations.