Photovoltaic recycling

Our vision is driven by research of national and European relevance.
Balestri Technologies, in collaboration with the MASE (Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security) and a consortium of industrial partners and strategic research institutes, is actively developing closed-loop solutions for the photovoltaic recycling supply chain.

• The SARA project
  Advanced process for selective recovery from photovoltaic panels
  By 2030, Europe will have to manage approximately 8 million tonnes of end-of-life photovoltaic modules. The SARA project addresses this challenge, aligning with EU targets for the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) and overcoming the limitations of traditional recycling processes, which are often inefficient or polluting.
• The technological solution
  Together with our partners, we have developed an integrated and automated plant (capacity: 30 panels/hour) based on 4 sequential phases:
  1. Glass removal: optimized mechanical separation.
  2. Backsheet elimination: thermal treatment without toxic emissions.
  3. Metal extraction: pyrolysis and selective leaching of aluminum, silicon, and silver.
  4. Silver recovery: advanced electrochemical system with an efficiency rate of >98%.
• Potential impact in Europe (annual capacity)
  On a European scale, the technological model developed by Balestri Technologies and its partners could enable the massive recovery of secondary raw materials:
  
  • Glass: 935 kt
  • Aluminum: 210 kt
  • Silicon metal: 45 kt
  • Copper: 25 kt
  • Silver: 0,4 kt

Towards a circular economy: by covering the entire value chain, the SARA project accelerates the green transition and redefines sustainability standards within the EU renewable energy sector.