Guidelines to encourage the comprehensive utilization of photovoltaic (PV) modules have jointly been released by six Chinese national authorities. These include Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Commerce, State Administration for Market Regulation, National Financial Regulatory Administration, and National Energy Administration.

Key tasks of the guidelines include refining relevant laws, regulations, policies and standards, boosting R&D of processing technologies, broadening application channels for related products, and strengthening support for key production factors. These will help foster organized development of China's comprehensive PV module utilization sector.

By 2027, the country will further raise green production levels of PV modules, effectively increase the proportion of recycled materials in production, and refine the evaluation criteria and inspection methods of module retirement, according to the guidelines.

In addition, breakthroughs in core technologies including surface structure disassembly, efficient separation of PV laminates, and component extraction will be achieved. The comprehensive utilization of retired PV modules will be further scaled up in key sectors including metal smelting, equipment manufacturing and building materials production.

A series of technical standards for the green design and comprehensive utilization of PV modules will be developed, a batch of leading enterprises in the sector will be fostered, and the cumulative volume of PV modules processed through comprehensive utilization will reach 250,000 tonnes.

By 2030, the technological and equipment level for comprehensive utilization of PV modules will be further enhanced with significantly strengthened industrial innovation and development capabilities, the guidelines noted. Application scenarios and methods for comprehensive utilization products will continue to expand, creating a strong capacity for using end-of-life PV modules. This capacity will feature close coordination across the industrial chain, rational production capacity layout, and the ability to address large-scale retirement waves.

Efforts should be made to advance the green design and manufacturing of the PV industry, improve the ease of dismantling and recycling of PV modules, and raise the proportion of recycled materials used in production, according to the guidelines. It calls for the orderly decommissioning of end-of-life PV modules, and guides relevant stakeholders to standardize the handover and delivery of waste PV modules.

The guidelines also stipulate the promotion of green and high-efficiency dismantling and utilization, encourage the development of non-destructive dismantling technologies, and support the extraction of silver materials from the metal grid lines of crystalline silicon solar cells.

Furthermore, the guidelines advocate promoting the coordinated development of the entire industrial chain for the comprehensive utilization of PV modules, and encourage PV module manufacturers, solar power station operators, and comprehensive utilization enterprises to actively extend their industrial chains.

Efforts will be made to optimize the environment for industrial innovation and development. Management measures for comprehensive utilization of industrial resources will be accelerated to clarify the responsibilities of all parties involved in the comprehensive utilization of waste photovoltaic modules. Policy support will also be strengthened.

Qualified PV industrial parks are encouraged to develop "waste-free zones." Support will therefore be given for collaboration among PV module manufacturers, comprehensive utilization product producers, and end-users to develop exemplary green and low-carbon industrial practices within the PV sector.

Enterprises in the PV module comprehensive utilization industrial chain will be supported to strengthen cooperation with internationally advanced companies. This will involve exchanges and learning from each other in areas such as technology, talent, and management model innovation. Ultimately, it would help improve their international competitiveness.