News Information

Provincial, autonomous regional, municipal and plan-single-listed city governments, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, industrial and information technology, environmental protection, commerce, market supervision, financial supervision and energy authorities, relevant central enterprises, and relevant industry associations: 

In order to implement the "Solid Waste Pollution Environment Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China" and fulfill the "Manufacturing Green and Low-Carbon Development Action Plan (2025-2027)", and to enhance the comprehensive utilization level of photovoltaic modules, the following suggestions are proposed. 

I. General Requirements

By 2027, the green production level of photovoltaic modules will be further enhanced, the proportion of recycled materials will be effectively increased, and the evaluation standards and inspection and testing methods for module decommissioning will be improved. Key technologies such as surface structure disassembly, efficient separation of laminated components, and component extraction will achieve breakthroughs. The application scale of comprehensive utilization products for used photovoltaic modules in key fields such as metal smelting, equipment manufacturing, and building material production will further expand. A number of technical standards for green design and comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic modules will be formulated, and a number of backbone enterprises for comprehensive utilization of used photovoltaic modules will be cultivated. The cumulative utilization volume of photovoltaic modules will reach 2.5 million tons. By 2030, the technical equipment level of photovoltaic module comprehensive utilization will be further improved, the innovation ability of the industry will be significantly enhanced, the application scenarios and application methods of comprehensive utilization products will continue to expand, and a comprehensive utilization capability for used photovoltaic modules with close upstream and downstream collaboration, reasonable production capacity layout, and the ability to cope with large-scale retirement waves will be formed. 

II. Promoting Green Design and Manufacturing in the Photovoltaic Industry 

(1) Enhance the ease of disassembly and utilization of photovoltaic components. Implement clean production audits in the photovoltaic industry in accordance with the law. Encourage photovoltaic component manufacturers to use easily disassemblable and separable adhesive materials, explore non-cross-linked structural film materials, to create conditions for efficient dismantling and utilization after disposal; encourage the use of green raw materials such as fluorine-free back sheets, lead-free solder tapes, and lead-free metal pastes to reduce the environmental disposal costs for comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic components. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(2) Increase the proportion of recycled materials. Support enterprises producing photovoltaic components such as photovoltaic glass, crystalline silicon materials, junction boxes, and aluminum frames to strengthen cooperation with enterprises engaged in comprehensive utilization of recycled resources, and increase the proportion of recycled plastics, recycled silicon materials, recycled non-ferrous metals, and recycled glass in the components. Encourage photovoltaic component manufacturers to, while meeting performance requirements, prioritize the purchase of photovoltaic frames, metal pastes, photovoltaic glass, etc., with a high content of recycled materials, to increase the proportion of recycled materials in photovoltaic components. (This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) 

III. Promote the orderly disposal and retirement of photovoltaic components 

(1) Clarify the criteria for determining the scrapping of photovoltaic modules. Based on the characteristics and performance of the installed components, accelerate the research and formulation of technical standards for the scrapping evaluation of photovoltaic modules, and clarify the scrapping evaluation procedures, technical requirements and evaluation methods. Encourage the application of methods such as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) electroluminescence (EL) imaging detection, thermal imaging detection, and artificial intelligence online monitoring to effectively identify the functional and structural integrity, safety level, and power attenuation of photovoltaic modules, providing references for module maintenance and scrapping determination. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology， the State Administration for Market Regulation， and the National Energy Administration are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(2) Guide relevant parties to properly dispose of used photovoltaic components. Guide photovoltaic component manufacturers, photovoltaic power stations, and power station construction parties, as well as all parties involved in photovoltaic components (such as producers, power stations, and construction parties), to sell the waste products generated during production, defective products with quality issues during use, damaged components due to transportation and construction, and retired components with low conversion efficiency or expired lifespan to comprehensive utilization enterprises. If producers, power stations, and construction parties entrust others to transport, utilize, or dispose of retired photovoltaic components, they should verify the qualifications and technical capabilities of the entrusted party and agree on pollution prevention and control requirements. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Energy Administration, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible for their respective duties) Improve the management policies for photovoltaic power station retirement, and guide photovoltaic power stations to carry out orderly upgrades and retirement. (The National Energy Administration is responsible) Support localities, relevant industry associations, and leading enterprises to build platforms for trading used photovoltaic components, strengthen the sharing of transaction information for used components, and enhance transaction efficiency and transparency. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for their respective duties) 

IV. Promoting Green and Efficient Disposal and Utilization 

(1) Enhance the precision of disassembly. Accelerate the research and development of efficient disassembly technologies for photovoltaic modules, encourage the application of automated cleaning, cutting, and disassembly equipment to improve the efficiency and accuracy of module disassembly. Develop adaptive disassembly systems that can identify and disassemble photovoltaic modules of various sizes and types automatically. Accelerate the development and application of mobile and modular fast-disassembly technology equipment, promote the "ready-for-disassembly" model, and meet the application scenarios of efficient recovery and flexible processing in various terrains, thereby reducing non-technical costs such as transportation and handling. Support the integration of distributed fast-disassembly technology with Internet of Things and intelligent logistics data analysis technologies to enhance the efficiency of resource allocation for module disassembly. (Responsible for this task: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) 

(2) Breakthrough in efficient separation technology. Conduct research on the bonding mechanism of photovoltaic module adhesive films, enrich and improve the theoretical system of low-cost detachment technology for adhesive films. Accelerate the development of physical, chemical, combined processes and new separation technologies for single-glass and double-glass photovoltaic modules, overcome green and efficient separation technologies for the components and adhesive films of photovoltaic modules, encourage the development of non-destructive disassembly technologies, and explore the acquisition paths for complete glass and other materials. See the attachment "Key Research Directions for Efficient Separation Technology" (Industry and Information Technology Ministry, and Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective duties). 

(3) Promote efficient purification of valuable components of photovoltaic modules. Encourage the extraction of silver materials from the metal traces on crystalline silicon battery cells, and explore the use of non-acidic or weakly acidic solvents for silver leaching to enhance the environmental protection level of the process. Accelerate the research on the technology for recycling reagents in the acid-based silver extraction process to increase the reagent recycling rate and the reagent reuse rate. Research on the fine purification process for components with low silver content in photovoltaic modules. Encourage the extraction of copper, lead, and tin from the welding tapes and current collectors, and utilize the silicon elements in photovoltaic modules in a graded and quality-based manner. According to the requirements of producers of polysilicon, aluminum-silicon alloys, and organic silicon, adopt wet and fire-based processes to improve the purity of silicon materials. Research on low-cost extraction technologies for low-value components such as glass, film, and back sheets to enhance the comprehensive utilization level of all components of photovoltaic modules. Support comprehensive utilization enterprises to adopt advanced production processes to reduce the environmental impact during dismantling and utilization. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(4) Expand the application fields of comprehensive utilization products. Focus on key application industries such as non-ferrous metals, building materials, and chemicals, and actively expand the application of photovoltaic component comprehensive utilization products such as silicon, silver, copper, aluminum, glass, back sheets, and adhesive films. (This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) 

V. Promote the coordinated development of the entire industrial chain for the comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic components 

(1) Strengthen the synergy among the upstream and downstream of the comprehensive utilization industrial chain. Encourage photovoltaic module manufacturers, photovoltaic power stations, and other entities that generate waste components to establish long-term and stable cooperative relationships with comprehensive utilization enterprises. This will broaden the sources of raw materials for comprehensive utilization enterprises and enhance their ability to ensure raw materials. Promote the collaboration between comprehensive utilization enterprises and product application industry enterprises to facilitate the promotion and application of comprehensive utilization products. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Energy Administration are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(2) Guide the rational layout of comprehensive utilization capacity based on the regional distribution, scale, construction age, and component characteristics of photovoltaic production enterprises and photovoltaic power stations. Make accurate predictions on the scale of waste and retirement, and reasonably build comprehensive utilization capacity. Focus on the photovoltaic power station clusters in the northwest, east, and north regions, promote the large-scale development of photovoltaic component comprehensive utilization industries, and encourage local and nearby comprehensive utilization to reduce transportation costs. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Energy Administration are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(3) Promote the integrated development of the entire dismantling and utilization chain. Encourage photovoltaic module manufacturers, photovoltaic power stations, and comprehensive utilization enterprises to actively extend their industrial chains, and jointly layout processes such as dismantling of the surface structure of photovoltaic modules, separation of laminated components, and extraction of components, to promote the intensification and integration of the production process and facilitate the large-scale development of the industry. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Energy Administration are responsible according to their respective duties) 

VI. Optimizing the Environment for Industrial Innovation and Development 

(1) Improve regulations and standards. Accelerate the formulation of management measures for industrial resource utilization, clarify the respective responsibilities of all parties involved in the comprehensive utilization of waste photovoltaic modules. Implement the "Guidelines for the Construction of Photovoltaic Industry Standards System" and the "Action Plan for Enhancing Standards in New Energy Vehicles, Lithium Batteries and Photovoltaic Industry", encourage enterprises to optimize the design of photovoltaic modules with the goals of lightweighting, easy disassembly, easy transportation, and easy recycling. Accelerate the research on technical standards in areas such as green design of photovoltaic modules, disposal, transportation, inspection and testing, comprehensive utilization, and product carbon footprint, and enhance the technical standard testing and certification capabilities in related fields. Accelerate the research on technical standards for extracting components of photovoltaic modules, as well as product standards for key areas of comprehensive utilization of waste photovoltaic modules, and strive to build a comprehensive and closely-connected standard system for photovoltaic module utilization from upstream to downstream. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(II) Enhance policy support. Support enterprises in the photovoltaic component utilization industry in actively participating in the application for manufacturing single-category champions, specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, and high-tech enterprises. Utilize the role of the national industrial-finance cooperation platform to guide financial institutions to provide credit financing support for green technological transformation in the photovoltaic industry and projects for the comprehensive utilization of used photovoltaic components. Expand diversified financing channels such as equity and debt financing, and encourage social capital to actively participate in the comprehensive utilization of used photovoltaic components. Utilize relevant special funds to increase support for the research and development of advanced comprehensive utilization technologies and equipment. Support advanced technologies for dismantling used photovoltaic components and recovering and purifying rare and precious metals to be included in the "National Industrial and Information Technology Green and Low-Carbon Process, Technology and Equipment Catalogue", strengthen supply-demand connection, and accelerate the promotion and application. Conduct research on topics such as the scale and utilization value of photovoltaic component retirement trends, to lay a foundation for scientifically and rationally planning the development of the comprehensive utilization industry. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(3) Cultivate leading enterprises in the industry. Encourage qualified photovoltaic industrial parks to carry out the construction of "zero-waste parks", and support photovoltaic module manufacturers, comprehensive utilization product manufacturers, and comprehensive utilization product users to strengthen cooperation, so as to cultivate a number of typical cases of industrial green and low-carbon development in the photovoltaic industry. Accelerate the research and formulation of industry norms and conditions for the comprehensive utilization of used photovoltaic modules. Based on the actual development situation of the industry, implement standardized management at an appropriate time, release the list of compliant enterprises, and promote the industry's standardization and high-quality development. Encourage relevant regions to support the development of the comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic modules by relying on national industrial resource comprehensive utilization bases. (The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective duties) 

(4) Strengthen publicity and international cooperation. Relevant industry associations, research institutions and enterprises should increase publicity efforts on the scientific recycling and utilization of photovoltaic components, and encourage relevant enterprises to enhance cooperation and communication through resource collaboration, technological cooperation, and information sharing, in order to reduce the overall cost of the industrial chain. Support the comprehensive utilization industry chain-related enterprises and international advanced enterprises to strengthen cooperation, and exchange and learn from each other in terms of technology, talents, and management model innovation, in order to enhance international competitiveness. (Each department is responsible according to its respective duties) 

VII. Strengthening Organizational Support 

The industrial and information technology authorities of regions with large-scale photovoltaic component installations in the northwest, east China, and north China should work together with relevant departments to enhance the research and development of comprehensive utilization processes, technologies, and equipment, and promote industrial application. Local energy industry authorities should organize the upgrading and renovation of photovoltaic power generation projects and the disposal of retired components. Environmental protection authorities should conduct unified supervision and management of the prevention and control of environmental pollution caused by retired photovoltaic components in their respective regions. Relevant industry associations should guide photovoltaic component manufacturers, photovoltaic power stations, and enterprises using comprehensive utilization products to strengthen cooperation, helping to cultivate a favorable comprehensive utilization industrial ecosystem. Leading and backbone enterprises in the industry should take the lead, actively implement all tasks and work goals, and coordinate with photovoltaic power stations, etc., to contribute to promoting the comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic components. (The relevant departments such as industrial and information technology, environmental protection, energy, and market supervision in each region shall be responsible according to their respective duties) 

Attachment: Key Research Directions for Efficient Separation Processes.pdf

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology 

Ministry of Ecology and Environment 

Ministry of Commerce

The State Administration for Market Regulation 

China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission 

National Energy Administration 

February 13th, 2026