Chemical recycling of end‐of‐life photovoltaic modules: A comprehensive review on methods, challenges, and future perspectives

Abstract The cumulative global installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased rapidly in recent years and is expected to continue growing over the coming decades, driven by declining costs and improved availability of PV technologies. However, this rapid deployment is projected to generate significant volumes of end‐of‐life PV waste, estimated to reach approximately 78 million tonnes by 2050. While this presents a waste management challenge, it also offers a valuable opportunity for resource recovery and circular economy development. The management of end‐of‐life solar panels has therefore become an important area of research. Valuable materials from both thin‐film and crystalline silicon PV modules can be recovered using physical, mechanical, and chemical processes. This review primarily focuses on chemical recycling as a promising approach for efficient material recovery. Various chemical processes are discussed, including silicon extraction, separation of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and recovery of valuable metals such as silver and aluminium. Several studies have reported the leaching of metals using acid and alkali systems, as well as delamination techniques employing organic solvents, supercritical fluids, and ionic liquids. In addition, key scientific, economic, and environmental challenges are critically examined, including cost‐effectiveness, chemical handling, and the lack of a comprehensive international regulatory framework. The review further highlights the role of green chemistry approaches in advancing sustainable PV recycling and supporting circular economy principles. Furthermore, different recycling strategies are compared in terms of chemical suitability, process efficiency, safety considerations, and associated challenges, along with future research perspectives.