Solar Panel Recycling: Single-Glass vs. Dual-Glass

As the volume of retired photovoltaic modules grows, the recycling of solar panels is increasingly attracting attention.

While both common single-glass and double-glass modules can be recycled, there are differences in their structure, as well as in the processes of crushing and sorting.

The Key Difference: Backside Architecture

Single-glass solar panels are relatively common; they feature a layer of glass on the front and usually a backsheet on the rear, with solar cells and encapsulation materials sandwiched in between.

Dual-glass modules are more straightforward: both the front and back sides are made of glass, with the solar cells sandwiched in the middle.

Simply put:

• Single-glass: Glass + solar cells + backsheet
• Double-glass: Glass + solar cells + glass

Both types of modules feature components such as aluminum frames, junction boxes, and cables.
Double-glass modules are heavier overall and contain a higher proportion of glass.

This is also the primary reason why the subsequent recycling and processing methods differ.

A Distinction in Recyclable Materials

Materials such as glass, aluminum frames, copper wiring, and solar cells can be recovered from both types of solar panels.

• For single-glass modules, the backsheet also requires processing.
• For double-glass modules, the primary consideration is the separation of the two glass layers and the encapsulant material between them.

Differences in Crushing and Processing Methods

Single-glass modules are relatively easy to process, though the backsheet tends to mix with other lightweight materials after breakage.

Double-glass modules contain more glass; precise control over particle size during crushing is required to avoid excessive fragmentation or suboptimal separation results.

Equipment Selection Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

In actual recycling operations, the process is not as simple as using one type of equipment for single-glass modules and another for double-glass modules.

Comparison Item	Single-glass	Double-glass
Glass	1 layer	2 layers
Backsheet	Yes	Usually no
Glass proportion	High	Higher
Recycling focus	Glass, metal, backsheet	Glass, metal, encapsulation materials

Throughput, component dimensions, material composition, and finished product specifications all influence equipment configuration. Simple dismantling equipment may be chosen for small-scale recycling, whereas large-scale projects are better suited to continuous shredding and sorting production lines.

Gomine provides customers with tailored solar panel recycling equipment and production line solutions based on solar panel types, processing capacities, and recycling requirements.