Recycling of Solar Panels | NPC incorporated

We provide intermediate treatment using our solar panel disassembling equipment at Matsuyama Factory in Ehime, Japan, to recycle discarded panels. The equipment separates glass from other materials without crushing, applying the “Heated Blade Separation Method”, our own technology. Recycling of glass becomes difficult when metals mix with it, however our original method enables an efficient recycling which leaves no metal residues on the separated glass.  The separated materials are handed over to the recycling companies, and we are putting maximum efforts to recycle discarded panels.

Composition of solar panel (crystalline silicone solar panel)

Problems regarding disposal of solar panels

 Current problems in Japan

• Disposed panels are not treated appropriately.
  • Panels that could still be used are not reused and landfilled.
  • There are cases that panels are disposed at the least controlled final landfill sites due to lack of understanding, while it should be disposed with appropriate methods such as landfilling at the controlled final landfill sites.

• Decrease of remaining capacity at the final landfill sites.

Problems regarding intermediate treatment

 Landfill disposal methods

After crushing/shredding, it is difficult to completely separate metals from glass, therefore mixed glass and metals are sent to landfill.

→Major impact to the environment

 Solution

Able to achive 95% recycing rate (result of the panels treated at Matsuyama factory) by using our original method "Heated Blade Separation Method".

Establishing the structure for proper recycling of solar panels