Trinasolar has announced that it has successfully produced the world’s first fully recycled c-Si module, its Research Centre Academy making the breakthrough with its innovative self-developed recycling technology, using materials including silicon, silver, aluminium frames and glass recovered from waste modules.
This was accomplished through multiple techniques, including the use of self-developed interlayer separation reagents, chemical etching and wet chemical silver extraction technology. The recycled module uses n-type TOPCon technology and has a golden size design, with module efficiency of 20.7% and power output exceeding 645W.
Company chairman and CEO Gao Jifan, also director of its Central R&D Institute, commented that the production of the world’s first fully recycled c-Si module is a strong statement underlining Trina’s commitment to promote sustainable development in the PV industry.
The company focuses on careful handling and recycling of waste PV panels, complying with international standards, having applied for 37 related patents. The European Union’s ‘Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive’, published in 2012, mandates that 85% of waste panels need to be centrally collected, with 80% of materials being recycled.
