Laser Method Recovers Silver From Solar Panels
The lab-scale process separates aged solar layers cleanly, a research-stage step toward recovering silver and silicon at scale.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Energy
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Researchers led by the University of Glasgow developed a laser-induced delamination method for recycling aged silicon solar modules. The method separates the EVA encapsulant from silicon cells and achieved over 95% selective silver extraction from aged solar panels; this is a research-stage result, not a commercial process.
Why it matters
Dominant recycling routes rely on shredding or bulk thermal treatment that generates mixed fractions, because EVA adheres strongly to cell interfaces. A method that separates these layers cleanly points toward recovering higher-value materials from end-of-life panels as solar deployment grows.
Tests used a 1,064 nm fiber laser at 9 W to 27 W across 30, 40 and 50 kHz pulse frequencies, with nearly complete EVA separation at around 18 W to 20 W. X-ray diffraction confirmed crystalline silicon remained after treatment, but the source does not report recovery costs or throughput at commercial scale.
The players
University of Glasgow
A Scottish research university whose team led the development of the laser-induced delamination method for solar module recycling.
Saudi Arabian partner university
A Saudi Arabia-based university that partnered on the research; the source does not name it.
German partner research center
A Germany-based research center that partnered on the work; the source does not name it.
The details
The team combined hot-knife glass removal with laser-induced delamination, a process where a pulsed laser heats the interface between layers until they separate. The EVA encapsulant, a plastic film that binds the glass and cells in a panel, is released from the silicon cells, leaving separate streams of EVA films, metal busbars and a silicon-rich powder. That powder is then leached in two steps: 1 M sodium hydroxide removes aluminum, and an iron(III) chloride-choline chloride brine extracts silver.
Timeline
Article on the laser-based recycling method published November 6, 2026.
The Tech Race
The approach departs from the shredding and bulk thermal routes that dominate current panel recycling, which yield mixed fractions. It is a research-stage contribution to a field where silver and silicon recovery from aged modules is an active competitive question.
This is a laboratory result, and no commercial availability, pricing or timeline has been announced. For now, the practical effect is limited to researchers and recyclers evaluating whether the method can be scaled beyond small samples.
The takeaway
Watch for follow-up work testing the process on larger module batches and reporting throughput and recovery economics. A scale-up result would show whether the selective silver extraction holds beyond the initial 20 mm × 20 mm samples.
Further reading
Explore more on Energy developments in solar panel recycling and materials recovery.
Source note: This article includes information reported by pv magazine International.
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