Recycling plant set for PV panels

Thailand is planning its first recycling plant for photovoltaic (PV) panels to deal with the massive amount of waste from solar power systems. Construction of the facility is expected to start by mid-2018 with a development cost of 60 million baht, says a government source.

The source said the plant would be operated by a joint venture between a local solar power system provider and a Chinese firm.

The source declined to give further details about the plant, saying the two sides have not yet finalised the deal. But the joint venture has already been granted a factory development licence by the Industrial Works Department (IWD).

The joint venture plans to apply for investment privileges from the Board of Investment and is now seeking capital, the source said.

The recycling plant is set to be built in Chachoengsao province, in the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor investment area.

The plant is meant to deal with growing PV panel waste as renewable power-generating capacity has grown to nearly 3,000 megawatts, mostly from solar power.

IWD expects to release its master plan soon to deal with solar-related waste and submit it for cabinet approval.

Eakbout Utamapong, IWD’s industrial waste senior engineer, said solar powergenerating capacity in Thailand grew from 57MW in 2010 to 2,040MW in 2015 and 2,640MW by the end of September 2017. Capacity is estimated to reach 6,000MW by 2036.

Thai energy policymakers estimate there are 15 million solar modules being used nationwide. Thailand has no clear policy to deal with solar waste, with up to 246 tonnes having been dumped improperly in local landfills over the past two decades.

Prof Pichaya Rachdawong of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering estimates the solar waste will rise to 800,000 tonnes by 2036, in line with the popularity of solar power, particularly solar rooftop installations.

But a recycling policy could both help reduce pollution while also tackling the waste problem, as most solar modules are made from glass, plastic, aluminium and steel.

He said the master plan to deal with solar waste should take into account waste from electric vehicles (EVs), particularly spent batteries, as the segment is being heavily promoted by the government.

“The government should think about [EVs] and put them in the same master plan before they become a big problem,” said Prof Pichaya.