by MA Yueran

China has issued new policy guidelines to boost solar panel recycling as the world's largest photovoltaic market prepares for a wave of ageing installations.

On March 3, six ministries including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released guidelines aimed at building a comprehensive system for recycling and reusing photovoltaic modules.

The plan targets cumulative recycling of 250,000 tonnes of solar modules by 2027, while calling for greener manufacturing, greater use of recycled materials and clearer standards for identifying and testing retired panels.

Authorities also aim to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies such as panel dismantling, separation of laminated components and extraction of valuable materials. Recovered materials could be used more widely in industries including metal smelting, equipment manufacturing and construction materials.

By 2030, China aims to further upgrade recycling technologies and equipment and build an industrial chain capable of handling large-scale panel retirements, according to the guidelines.

Solar panels contain valuable materials including glass, silicon, silver, copper and aluminum, which can be recovered and reused through recycling processes, helping reduce environmental pressure and resource waste.

Recycling technologies generally fall into three main categories: physical, chemical and thermal processes, each with different trade-offs in cost, efficiency and scalability.

Although some early installations are beginning to retire, analysts say the current volume of decommissioned panels remains limited.

"Most of China's solar panels were installed in the past five to ten years, so they are still relatively new," said TAN Youru, a photovoltaic analyst at BloombergNEF, in comments to Jiemian News.

Some panels removed from power plants are instead resold to regions or countries with lower efficiency requirements, extending their operational life rather than entering recycling streams immediately, Tan said.

According to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, large volumes of retired solar panels are expected to begin appearing around 2025. By 2030, annual waste volumes could reach about 18 gigawatts, equivalent to roughly 1.4 million tonnes. By 2040, cumulative waste could rise to 253 gigawatts, or around 20 million tonnes.

Industry forecasts point to a rapidly expanding recycling market. A 2024 white paper released by the photovoltaic recycling center of the China Green Supply Chain Alliance estimates that the sector could reach 26 billion yuan (about US$3.8 billion) by 2030 under early-retirement scenarios, rising to 420 billion yuan by 2050.

China has already begun experimenting with recycling technologies. In August 2024, solar manufacturer Trina Solar produced what it described as the world’s first fully recycled photovoltaic module.

The company said the module was made using recovered silicon and silver from discarded solar cells, along with recycled aluminum and glass for the frame and panel. The resulting product achieved a conversion efficiency of 20.7% and a power output exceeding 645 watts.

The new policy also calls for promoting green design and manufacturing in the solar industry, improving dismantling and recycling efficiency, strengthening coordination across the supply chain and creating a more supportive environment for innovation as China prepares for a surge in solar panel retirements.