Borosil Renewables Assessing Solar Module Recycling Potential

Q2: Borosil Renewables’ Exports Accounted For 13% Of Turnover  

Borosil Renewables Ltd., the multinational solar glass manufacturing firm, is exploring a possible entry into the recycling of solar PV modules. This initiative aims to establish industry best practices in the extraction and utilization of the materials being recovered from the recycling process.

Having one of the lowest carbon footprints in solar glass manufacturing globally, the firm intends to continue further on the path to sustainability by starting a solar PV module recycling business that aims to extract valuable materials that have been used in the fabrication of solar modules after the end of their useful life. The firm is now seeking to collaborate with relevant equipment suppliers & technology partners for this opportunity.

Speaking on this development, Pradeep Kheruka, Executive Chairman, of Borosil Renewables Ltd. said, “We are looking forward to taking our credentials related to sustainability and circularity to the next level and are looking at solar module recycling as a next big opportunity. It is our larger intent at Borosil to be proactive on the environmental front and follow the best industry practices to make our business truly sustainable. With more than a decade of presence in the solar industry and a deep-rooted relationship with all the important Indian and global stakeholders like solar module manufacturers, solar project developers, policymakers, etc., we firmly believe that we are well-placed to achieve success in this area. We look forward to launching this initiative with the right technology partners who are experts in the domain to integrate this technology into our manufacturing capabilities.”

Borosil Renewables is  looking to collaborate with technology partners who have established the environmentally friendly solar module recycling process and recovering maximum components such as precious metals (Silver), Cell material (Silicon) besides Glass, Aluminum, Copper, etc.,  and looking for technologies with more than 95% recycling efficiency.

The possible entry into solar recycling is likely to be a much awaited entry for many players, as the sheer volume and scale of solar panels that reach the end of their life starts to go up sharply in the next few years. Typically built for a lifetime of 25 years, achieving over 95% recycling ability is crucial to the future sustainability of solar, as this will also resolve the issue of key minerals and materials required in the panels. With mandates for recycling already in place in Europe, and China and the US expected to follow soon, investments inti the space are ramping up, and firms in Europe as well as other regions, especially the largest manufacturer, China, are close to achieving commercial level productivity.