Silicon Kerf Recycling Solution

The technologies developed by ROSI?Solar allow for the revalorization of this kerf. On the one hand, these processes fully separate the fine silicon particles and the sawing liquid. This liquid can thus be reused for ingot slicing instead of being treated as wastewater and released in the environment. On the other hand, the silicon particles are washed from the impurities generated during the sawing process and then reconditioned as ultra-pure silicon granules. These granules can then re-enter the manufacturing process upstream the value chain in order to produce new silicon wafers.

In 2019, the newly installed solar capacity reached 115 GW worldwide. Thus, the photovoltaic modules production resulted in loosing about 200?000?tons of photovoltaic-grade silicon discarded as waste, accounting for a lost value of 1.5 Bn USD. ROSI Solar’s technologies aim at strongly reduce this financial loss but also to cut down the greenhouse gas emissions triggered by the production of raw materials for the photovoltaic industry.