Technical Name PV-Zero: AI-Powered Full-Mass Photovoltaic Waste Recycling
Project Operator National University of Tainan
Project Host 傅耀賢
Summary
Driven by the growing demand for renewable energy, countries around the world are establishing management regulations for decommissioned solar panels. Taiwan has passed the "Resource Circulation Promotion Act". Similarly, Japan passed the "Solar Panel Recycling Promotion Act" on May 29 to address the upcoming surge of waste, which is projected to exceed 500,000 tons annually. At the core of this technology is AI-assisted identification of solar panels, which determines module dimensions to optimize frame dismantling, backsheet removal, and the layered scraping of materials such as semiconductor silicon and EVA.
Scientific Breakthrough
Unlike the solar panel recycling methods adopted in other countries, our team's technology emphasizes a full-mass utilization approach for decommissioned solar panels. This includes converting glass into sodium silicate, separating and purifying semiconductor silicon—which accounts for only 3.5% of the panel's mass—and transforming silver, comprising a mere 0.03%, into valuable feedstock for urban mining. These achievements have been successfully realized through AI-assisted technology. In addition to being patented, the related technologies have been published in the SCI journal “Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells”
Industrial Applicability
"Resource circulation and zero waste" is no longer just a slogan. Driven by regulatory updates, domestic treatment operators that have obtained waste solar panel recycling licenses (D-2528) are evolving into circular raw material manufacturers backed by advanced technological capabilities. Our team provides an array of technologies for circular recycled materials, including glass recycling, EVA reuse, hydrogen production from semiconductor silicon, and silver purification. These multi-faceted technologies are designed to drive and elevate the value of decommissioned solar panels.
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  • Hao-Chen Wang
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