Sustainable strategic metals supply by recycling end-of-life thin-film solar cells (SMART)

Purpose and goal:

The SMART project aims to develop an innovative and sustainable approach for recycling strategic metals from Swedish waste thin-film solar cells. This will be achieved by integrating solar cell recycling into the steel scrap recycling process using an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), enabling a stable domestic strategic metals supply chain for Swedish industry.

The project seeks to reveal the materials flow during the recycling process and optimize the recovery of strategic metals, such as indium (In), gallium (Ga), silver (Ag), and selenium (Se), from discarded thin-film solar cells. Expected results and effects:

The expected results for this project are the identification of concentrations of strategic metals in varying phases during recycling and the establishment of the distribution coefficients of strategic metals between different phases. This project will result in a technical solution for the industrial implementation of strategic metals recycling. This will enhance the competitiveness of the Swedish mining and metal production industries by creating a sustainable and domestic source of critical metals, which will reduce reliance on imports and increase supply chain stability.

Approach and implementation:

This project will start with the characterization of waste materials followed by theoretical calculations using thermodynamic software, and experimental investigation on the behavior of metals in the smelting system. The project´s successful outcomes, including optimal process conditions, process efficiency, metal recovery rates, and environmental benefits, will be thoroughly analyzed and optimized for scalability. Based on the project results, a business model for recycling will be created.