Photovoltaic (PV) Recycling | Intact glass separated from retired PV modules, recovering 98% of glass

The retired PV wave

Early large-scale PV installations in China are reaching retirement. A module contains recoverable aluminum frames, tempered glass, cells, silver, and copper. The core question in recycling is not whether the equipment can be dismantled but whether the material value can be preserved.

Yuxinmiao (煜鑫淼) takes a different route from the mainstream crush-first approach. It uses intact-glass layer separation.

Why intact glass separation

If glass, cells, and other materials are crushed at the front end and sorted afterward, separation and high-value use are limited. Yuxinmiao's approach: remove glass as a whole first, then sort the remaining cells and ribbon materials.

The company states that compared with conventional crushing, this method increases high-value material value by over 30% and doubles overall benefit.

The technical challenge

A PV module is not just "glass + cells". Below tempered glass is EVA film, and below that are the cells. The layers are heat-bonded tightly. Direct tearing damages materials.

Yuxinmiao uses a low-temperature mechanical process. Preheating softens the EVA film, allowing intact glass separation. The system is automated, with continuous operation across stages, low-toxicity processing, and zero wastewater.

Line sequence:

Automatic feeder: Retired modules enter the line and are pre-treated for dismantling.
Junction box cutter: Cuts the rear junction box and cables, separating copper and removing plastic auxiliary materials.
Frame remover: Removes the aluminum frame intact for aluminum profile recycling. Backsheet remover: Strips the backsheet layer, separating backsheet organic material.
Cell separation: Separates cells from glass without damage.
Glass de-gluing machine: Removes residual EVA film from glass and laminate surfaces.

The company states single-glass module glass recovery rate reaches over 98%, and silver and copper metal recovery over 95%.

Adapting to different modules

Single-glass, dual-glass, and BIPV modules coexist in the market, and film aging varies by module age. Dismantling difficulty differs.

Yuxinmiao uses AI visual recognition. The line adapts to single-glass, dual-glass, and BIPV modules, handling retired modules of different brands and ages consistently. The company holds multiple utility model patents for PV and lithium battery recycling equipment. Its retired intact-glass layer separation technology for PV module circular utilization won third prize in the wind and solar power generation and recycling category of New Energy Industry Track at 2025 BRICS Industrial Innovation Contest.

Project reference

Wuchan Huaneng's retired PV recovery project uses Yuxinmiao's intact-glass separation line. In this project, recovery cost decreased by over 20%, resource recovery rate exceeded 95%, and organic waste was fired for power generation.

After separation, a PV module becomes whole pieces of material: whole glass, whole backsheet, whole film.

About the exhibitor

Yuxinmiao focuses on recovery of PV modules and lithium batteries. The company works with European partners on intelligent automated high-end equipment and system integration services, providing complete recovery solutions.

Booth: C1E35

At-a-glance:

Yuxinmiao | Photovoltaic (PV) Recycling | Intact glass separated from retired PV modules, recovering 98% of glass

Shanghai Yuxinmiao: Intact Glass Recovery from Decommissioned PV Modules