Research on photovoltaic (PV) module recycling technology in China began around 2010. In November 2010, a research project entitled “Research and Development of Key Technologies and Equipment for the Decomposition and Recycling of Failed Photovoltaic Modules” was initiated, representing an early example of physical recycling research methods. In 2007, the European Union established PV CYCLE, an organization specifically responsible for the recycling and reuse of crystalline silicon PV modules, which officially began operations in 2010. In early 2014, the revised version of the EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) officially came into effect, for the first time including PV modules in the mandatory recycling scope. In 2018, the research paper “Research on Recycling and Reuse Technology of Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Modules” was published, focusing on the environmental issues after the modules are scrapped. In December 2021, the first pilot line for the full-material recycling of crystalline silicon PV modules built by State Power Investment Corporation Yellow River Company passed acceptance, forming an industrial-scale equipment integration solution with a comprehensive recycling rate of over 90%. In recent years, leading domestic companies such as Jinko Solar and Trina Solar have been conducting research on environmentally friendly treatment processes based on chemical methods. In August 2024, Trina Solar produced the world’s first fully recyclable photovoltaic module using recycled materials, achieving a conversion efficiency of 20.7%.
In January 2023, six departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Energy Electronics Industry,” requiring the promotion of research and development and industrial application of photovoltaic module recycling technologies. In January 2025, the first domestic 10,000-ton-class containerized intelligent photovoltaic module recycling demonstration line, independently developed by China Energy Conservation’s solar energy company, officially began operation in Jianli, Hubei Province, marking significant progress in industrialization demonstration. In June 2025, construction of a photovoltaic panel dismantling line commenced, subsequently entering the stage of large-scale mass production and operation, achieving a comprehensive resource recovery rate of up to 95% using a combination of physical and wet methods. In January 2026, the “Research and Application Demonstration of Full-Component Recycling and Resource Utilization of Retired Photovoltaic Modules” project, jointly undertaken by the University of Science and Technology of China and other institutions, was officially launched, focusing on solving the challenges of large-scale recycling and resource utilization. In March 2026, six departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Comprehensive Utilization of Photovoltaic Modules,” which clearly stated that by 2027, breakthroughs should be achieved in key technologies such as surface structure disassembly, efficient separation of laminated components, and component extraction, setting new stage goals for technological development.
