Recycling Process

First Solar has established the industry's first comprehensive, prefunded module collection and recycling program designed to be unconditional, convenient, and free. The program is designed to allow the modules, including the glass and encapsulated semiconductor material, to be treated and processed into new modules or other products.

Stages of Recycling

	Collection
	The modules are collected in hoppers and loaded by forklift into a shredder.
	Shredder
	The modules are reduced in size in a two-step process. Step one uses a shredder to break the modules into large pieces.
	Hammermill
	Step-two, the hammermill, crushes the broken glass into 4-5mm pieces, small enough to ensure the lamination bond is broken.
	Film Removal
	The semiconductor films are removed by the addition of acid and hydrogen peroxide in a slowly rotating, stainless steel drum.
	Solid-Liquid Separation
	The drum is slowly emptied into a classifier where glass is separated from the liquids. A rotating screw conveys the glass up an incline, leaving the liquids behind.
	Glass-Laminate Material Separation
	A vibrating screen separates the glass from the larger pieces of laminate material (which formerly sealed the two pieces of glass together).
	Glass Rinsing
	The glass is rinsed to remove any residual semiconductor material that physically remains on the glass. The cleaned glass is packaged for recycling.
	Precipitation
	The metals-rich liquid is pumped to the precipitation unit. The metal compounds are precipitated in three stages at increasing pH.
	Dewatering
	The precipitated materials are concentrated in a thickening tank. The resulting unrefined semiconductor material is packaged for processing by a third party to create semiconductor material for use in new modules.