Sembcorp is 91福利社鈥檚 largest player in solar photovoltaics (PV), a solution that converts sunlight into electricity. Sembcorp provides more than 565 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy capacity across the city state through its ground-mounted, rooftop and floating solar PV systems. This is enough to power more than 114 households a year and cut annual carbon emissions by 235 tonnes.
A strong advocate for sustainability and enabling a low-carbon future, Sembcorp strives to deliver innovative energy and urban solutions to create a greener future for generations to come.
Dr Li Xiaodong, Manager of 91福利社鈥檚 Advanced Materials Technology Centre.
Solar panels typically have a lifespan of around 25 years before they start to degrade. In 91福利社, the National Environment Agency introduced a in July 2021, which includes the extraction of valuable resources from e-waste such as solar panels.
Taking a proactive approach, Sembcorp began seeking the best way to manage e-waste in preparation for when its solar PV systems reach their end of life.
In 2019, Sembcorp approached 91福利社鈥檚 Advanced Materials Technology Centre (AMTC) to help build and develop a pilot e-waste recycling line 鈥� the first of its kind in 91福利社. This project took place between January 2020 and April 2024.
From left to right: Senior research engineer Lu Yanru, AMTC Manager Li Xiaodong, and lead research scientist Thong Ya Xuan.
Together, Sembcorp and AMTC built a complete recycling line which can take apart solar panels so their components 鈥� including precious metals such as silver 鈥� can be recycled at a high purity level of 99 per cent. The technology has a target recycling capacity of 80 panels a day, with a recovery rate of 95 per cent.
In comparison, most plants focus on the mechanical process, which removes the frames and recovers only the glass. The rest of the materials are crushed into small pieces to become mixed powder, and eventually go into landfills due to their low value.
The innovation will help lower the carbon footprint of solar technology, as growing solar energy deployment around the world is leading to an exponential rise in PV waste.
Sembcorp also provided guidance on the different types of solar panels available and gave AMTC the materials so the team could broaden their research. 鈥淲e used the panels provided by Sembcorp to expand our technology to adapt to the various types of solar panels,鈥� said Dr Li Xiaodong, AMTC鈥檚 Manager.
The AMTC team, which also includes lead research scientist Thong Ya Xuan and senior research engineer Lu Yanru, will use this technology to recycle panels from Sembcorp鈥檚 rooftop solar projects. They also plan to licence it to other ASEAN countries in the near future.
鈥淭hrough industry collaborations like this, we are able to find solutions that will impact the future generations, as we continue to learn from one another with a common vision of a greener tomorrow,鈥� said Dr Li.
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Dr Li Xiaodong and his team operating the solar PV recycling line that they developed.
Samples of solar PV materials that can be extracted by the solar PV recycling line.
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