Antimony is used to enhance the performance of patterned solar glass but introduces environmental and health concerns, complicating recycling efforts.
ncept Note Print on Management of Antimony Containing Glass from End-of-Life of the Solar PV Panels1. Background An application OA No. 473 of 2017, Niharika Vs Union of India and Others was filed before Hon'ble NGT regarding use of Antimony containing glasses used in solar Photo
How much antimony is in solar glass?
World Health Organization (WHO): A limit of 5 ppb. California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA): A public health goal of 1 ppb for Antimony. Proportion of Antimony in solar glass is typically 0.2% to 0.3% (2 to 3 million ppb). Each PV module has a front glass weighing about 16 kg and thus an Antimony content of 32 to 48 grams.
Currently, the import of modules from outside the EU with variable antimony content drastically complicated recycling efforts of solar glass. Indeed, antimony poses environmental and health risks and can lead to undesirable interactions with the manufacturing process. To address this issue, ESIA members are calling for:
Should PV module manufacturers be required to disclose antimony compounds?
To address these challenges, the ESIA Recommendation paper suggests that the European Union should consider mandating PV module manufacturers under the upcoming Ecodesign regulations to disclose the composition and manufacturing process of solar glass, including additives like antimony compounds.
Will antimony be used in photovoltaics?
The use of antimony in photovoltaics is expected to surpass its flame-retardant usage to become the major downstream use for the metal and will change the supply-demand balance in the antimony industry, a senior industry executive told Fastmarkets
Can Borosil remove antimony from solar glass?
Borosil has been able to successfully remove the Antimony from Solar glass. Institut fur Solartechnik SPF, SWITZERLAND, widely considered a GOLD STANDARD for testing and certification of solar glass publishes on its website, test results of solar glass from some of the top solar glass manufacturers in the world.