EU Project
Innovative photovoltaic panel recycling
SMR Poland Limited Liability Company is implementing the following project:
“Photovoltaic panel recycling” co-financed by the European Union under Priority I of the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027 (FENG) Programme
Project implementation
The project will be carried out within two modules:
– R&D module consisting of four stages:
Development of mobile photovoltaic panel recycling technology
Development of a complete industrial installation for recycling and recovery of secondary raw materials from photovoltaic panels
Production testing of the mobile installation at the customer’s site
Production testing of the complete installation at SMR Polska premises
– Innovation implementation module:
Implementation of aluminum sorting technology using X-ray detectors and infrared sensors
Target groups:
– R&D module:
companies collecting end-of-life photovoltaic panels
PV installation companies
private owners of photovoltaic systems
– Implementation module:
aluminum smelters processing aluminum scrap
Project objective:
The aim of the project is to develop a process innovation and implement a product innovation into the Beneficiary’s portfolio.
The planned R&D work focuses on developing a technology enabling up to 90% glass recovery from photovoltaic panels. The developed method is based on delamination, allowing separation of clean glass and its near-complete recovery.
As part of the implementation module, results of in-house R&D conducted by the Beneficiary will be implemented, focusing on aluminum sorting using X-ray detectors and infrared cameras.
Project value:
PLN 22,975,335.77
EU funding:
PLN 8,854,339.89
This project involves research and development (R&D) activities aimed at developing a process innovation and implementing a product innovation into the Applicant’s offering.
The planned R&D work focuses on developing a technology enabling up to 90% recovery of glass from photovoltaic panels. The proposed method is based on delamination, which allows for the separation of clean glass and its near-complete recovery.
As part of the implementation module, the results of R&D work independently carried out by the Applicant will be implemented.
The conducted research focused on aluminum sorting using X-ray detectors and infrared cameras.
Innovative photovoltaic panel recycling
Our goal is to develop and implement a modern photovoltaic panel recycling technology that enables the recovery of over 90% of raw materials, primarily glass – which accounts for more than 60% of a panel’s mass.
Currently, the biggest challenge in PV panel recycling is glass. In standard processes, it becomes fragmented and contaminated, which prevents its reuse in glass furnaces. Our solution eliminates this problem.
What does the innovation consist of?
The technology we are developing is based on a delamination process, i.e. separating the glass from the other layers of the panel without breaking it. This allows us to obtain clean glass in larger fragments, which can be reused as a high-quality raw material.
Other materials, such as aluminum, silicon, and non-ferrous metals, are also efficiently recovered and sent for further processing.
Why is this important?
The rapid development of photovoltaics in Poland and Europe means that the number of end-of-life panels requiring processing will significantly increase in the coming years. At the same time, the market still lacks efficient solutions enabling full material recovery.
Our technology addresses this challenge by enabling:
- Maximum material recovery (over 90%)
- Reuse of glass in industry
- Reduction in the consumption of natural resources and energy
- Real contribution to the circular economy (CE)
Direction: the future of recycling
The developed technology will enable the launch of modern photovoltaic panel recycling lines and the introduction of high-quality secondary raw materials to the market. This is a step towards sustainable energy and Europe’s raw material independence.
A new standard in non-ferrous metal recycling
At SMR Poland, we develop and implement innovative technologies that enable the maximum utilization of waste potential and its transformation into high-quality raw materials.
Our solution, based on the latest sorting technologies, sets a new standard in aluminum recycling. Thanks to this, we are able to achieve a level of material purity that has so far been difficult to obtain in industrial processes.
What does this mean in practice?
We produce premium-grade aluminum granulate with a purity above 98%.
We increase the value of raw materials by up to 10–15%, opening access to more demanding markets and customers.
A technology that works for the environment and for business
Our solution not only improves efficiency but also has a real environmental impact. By eliminating the material washing process:
- We reduce water consumption by up to several cubic meters per ton of raw material.
- We reduce costs and the environmental footprint of the entire process.
Compared to traditional methods and costly laser-based technologies, our solution offers higher efficiency, greater scalability, and the ability to separate finer material fractions.
Value that remains in circulation
Thanks to the implementation of this technology, waste is no longer a problem—it becomes a full-value raw material for industry, including the automotive sector and the production of advanced components.
This is a step towards a modern, efficient, and responsible industry, where recycling means not only recovery but also real economic and environmental value.