Waste Glass Recycling business Cooperatives

Proper Recycling: Sustainable disposal for PV modules
With the urgent need to address climate change, photovoltaic solar power generation isexpected to contribute towards achieving carbon neutral by 2050.
However, as the FIT period ends in the mid-2030s, there is concern about the massdisposal of solar panels, reaching 170,000-280,000 tonnes annually. In Japan, waste
solar panels are classified as industrial waste and must be properly disposed of andrecycled with minimal environmental impact.
Wakeeru Typeis an integrated system that separates and sorts waste solar
panels, facilitating the utilization of valuable recycled materials.

Recycling process of waste PV modules
Receiving damaged modules

Removal of junction box

Separation of aluminum frame

Recycled glass

Sorting of glass

Delamination of glass(Glass after sorting)(Glass before sorting)(Back-sheet after delamination)

Features of Glass Wakeeru Typesystem

Proper recycling of waste photovoltaic modules- All separated and recovered materials are utilized as valuable resources.
- Aluminum frames and electric cables are recycled as metal, while back-sheets with cells arerecovered as silver.

Glass recycling technology and achievements- Applying the technology cultivated through glass recycling to waste photovoltaic modules.
- Expertise in utilizing recycled glass, which constitutes two-thirds of PV modules.

Network & support of Waste Glass Recycling Business Cooperatives- Support for recycling business, sharing of sales and technological developments.
- Distributing disposal requests to each member for referral to the headquarters, selling backsheets to smelting plant.

Is that glass really being recycled?
- Are recycling routes truly established?
- Is the glass actually landfilled for final disposal?
- Is there any energy input in production process when using recycled glass?

Glass Wakeeru Typemakes effective use of recycled glass

Recycled glass is used as glass
sand, and sold as the Eco Markproduct "Crystal Stone & Sand".

Aiming for local circulation of recycled resources, joint
research on weed prevention and reflective materials
made of glass sand is being carried out with AIST(*).

Research as weed prevention and reflective material
Examples of use as weed prevention in PV plants

The electricity output is expected to enhance by laying
glass sand as a reflective material under bifacial modules.

* Development and commercialization project for renewable energy technology,
supported by the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Advancing towards resource recycling of PV modules
Local utilization ofrecycled resources

Disposal or damage of PV modules

Weed prevention/reflective materials

Appropriate collection
and disposal of waste
Recycling resources
as valuable resources

Glass Wakeeru TypesystemRealizing of resource circulation
through PV module recyclingEquipment Capacity & Specification
Delamination Process
Glass Wakeeru Type 3

Sorting process

Module size

L2000 ~ 1580 x W1030 ~ 930

Process capacity

Approx. 60 seconds per module

Max. power consumption

29.2 W

Components

Frame remover, Glass remover, Conveyed systems,
Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, Control equipment,
Dust collection systems, etc.

Sorting methods

Particle size selection (Vibration sorter),Gravity sorting (Closed circulation wind sorter),
Color sorter, Metal detection

Process capacity

Approx. 1000kg/h

Max. power consumption

21.0 W* Specifications and capacities depend on equipment configuration and other requirement.

Check the website for more details and movies

https://wakale.mk-partners.jp/en

Equipment Layout* This layout shows typical example, optimal system configuration and layout will be proposed according to customer requirement.

Waste Glass Recycling business Cooperatives

Head quarter MizusawaOroshi-machi 4-7, Ohshu-Shi, Iwate
Tokyo branch Iwate Ginga Plaza, Ginza5-15-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

MK&Partners (Western Japan Sales Office)Ishogami-Dori 8-1-29-403, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
https://www.mk-partners.jp/en/
miyawaki.kenichi@mk-partners.jp
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkpartners/ (LinkedIn )Ver.2.0 (2024.1.10)