The multiple benefits of energy recycling, ranging from the reduction of energy consumption and the conservation of natural resources to the creation of green jobs and adequate management of renewable energy technologies, make it an essential tool to move towards a more sustainable future.
The energy transition implies the change of traditional energy sources, such as oil and coal, to clean and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydroelectric. This process is essential to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
According to the report ‘Wind, photovoltaic and batteries recycling in Europe: an opportunity for the recovery of critical raw materials’, published by the Naturgy Foundation. The expected deployment of renewable energy in Europe in the next decade will require a large number of raw materials that are sometimes considered critical.
Specifically, in the European continent, more than 80% of these raw materials are imported, while China is the 60% supplier of world demand for materials. To this is added the end of the useful life of wind, photovoltaic and batteries facilities, whose waste must be properly managed to minimize their impact on the environment.
In this context, the recycling is ensured in the report, both is key to achieve independence of supplies and, consequently, the energy independence of Europe, and to promote the circular economy and sustainable management of waste.
Useful life and waste management
In addition, according to data from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, waste derived from these energies planned for 2050 are 43 million tons of wind turbine blades and 78 million tons of solar panel waste.
The useful life of renewable energies varies according to technology. Although each of them has its own challenges in terms of durability, it is estimated that they have a useful life of between 25 and 30 years, with the exception of the hydroelectric that can vary between 50 and 100 years. Therefore, they all represent viable and sustainable options for long -term energy generation.
Also the management in its reuse is different. For example, wind is quite effective in reuse of components, while photovoltaic recycling faces the challenge of recovering the most value materials of its systems to create an incentive in this market, both economic and sustainability.
In the photovoltaic, according to data from the Solarpower Europe Business Association, the current recycling processes recover up to 95% of the materials that compose them. However, according to Jesus Chapado, responsible for innovation of Naturgy, “there are still some materials that, although in a significantly lower proportion, it is necessary to recover for their high value.” This is the case of materials such as silver, silicon, copper, zinc and other semiconductors such as telurio, selenium or Indian, subject to rigorous treatment requirements. “They are high value materials, either because they are considered precious, due to their shortage or by the manufacturing processes to which they are subjected,” summarizes plated.
Naturgy’s director of Innovation explains that so far there are no great initiatives to recover those most value materials, among other things because “the techniques that work, based on thermal treatments, are still far from achieving optimal profitability.” In addition, “as the volume of panels that have reached their useful life is still limited, a specific industry has been developed so far exclusively dedicated to the recycling of photovoltaic modules.”
“Therefore, it seems urgent to develop a timely scenario to create an industry that has to do with the collection, management and recycling of waste from these facilities,” he concludes.
The business approach
In this scenario, collaboration between different sectors, as well as innovation in recycling and design technologies are fundamental. Specifically, Naturgy has developed an integral approach that covers from waste management to the reuse of materials in its production processes.
With regard to waste management, the company has implemented advanced systems for the collection, classification and treatment of waste generated in its operations. Digitization constitutes a determining factor in the improvement of waste management. Naturgy uses tools that allow monitoring and managing waste flows in real time, which facilitates greater efficiency in the management of recyclable materials.
In the field of material reuse, Naturgy has carried out projects in which components of old equipment have been reused to build new facilities, thus reducing the need to manufacture new materials and decreasing the associated carbon footprint.
Also in the field of innovation and technology, it has launched projects such as Wind tour that Naturgy has launched – together with other strategic partners – for the disassembly and integral management of wind farms recycling.
As regards strategic alliances, Naturgy has been referred to,