Okayama’s Panel to Panel solar panel circularity with new methods

Niimi Solar Company has been tackling the pressing environmental challenge by developing a pioneering solution for the recycling of decommissioned solar panels. The company has patents for its thermal decomposition apparatus, which uses superheated steam at temperatures exceeding 600°C to disassemble used panels. This process separates key recyclable components (glass, solar cells and copper wiring) from the materials without the need for additional post-processing steps.

The method tackles two major issues. Conventional recycling techniques require further sorting of components bonded by materials such as EVA and backsheet, and often involve CO2 emissions during the burning of these organic substances. Niimi Solar’s approach, by contrast, vapourises these substances in a closed system that produces zero CO2 emissions from processing.

Niimi Solar is also addressing the concerns over the rapid growth of solar energy installations in Japan. More than 3.5 million solar panels are in use nationally. As panels reach the end of their service lives, estimates suggest that between 170,000 and 290,000 tonnes of waste could be generated annually by the mid-2030s, rising to 800,000 tonnes by 2040. The recycling mandate, announced by the government in 2024, further underscores the need for sustainable solutions.

The company’s representative spurred the establishment of the PV Reborn Association in 2022, a consortium of over 180 companies and individuals. The group aims to build “Reborn Park” in Okayama by 2030, creating a model for local production and consumption that aligns with circular economy principles.

Niimi Solar Company’s innovation in mitigating environmental impact from solar panel production can offer solutions to similar concerns in other regions, be it handling solar panel waste or advocating for solar energy.