| In DeForest, Wisconsin, 5N Plus Inc., currently a | | | | In describing the expansion into DeForest, 5N’s |
| Canadian cadmium telluride (CdTe) producer serving | | | | project analysis suggests that it could accumulate up |
| the solar panel industry, plans to open a solar module | | | | to 7.5 tons of tellurium dioxide in the first year alone. |
| deconstruction facility. | | | | Given the cost of tellurium, the initiative could |
| Cadmium telluride is used in thin-film solar applications, | | | | generate up to $2 million just in the chemical’s |
| and 5N Plus Inc., which plans to begin the solar panel | | | | value, with several times that amount garnered as a |
| recycling process with the coated soda-lime glass | | | | result of recycling. One 5N company executive |
| from obsolete solar panels and solar panel production | | | | projects $73 million in revenue in 2010 (with the |
| failures, says it may eventually use the leased, | | | | company’s fiscal year ending May 31). |
| 60,000-square-foot facility to recover tellurium dioxide | | | | The DeForest plant is also one of 5N’s largest, |
| from discarded solar panels as well. | | | | and could also be used to produce CdTe, in addition |
| 5N Plus Inc. has already received a conditional permit | | | | to the tellurium and other materials rescued from |
| from the DeForest Board of Trustees for a facility | | | | recycling. A similar, but smaller, plant in Germany |
| using chemical processing, according to reports from | | | | already does such recycling and chemical production |
| the Sept. 8 board meeting. The permit describes the | | | | work, and a company spokesperson noted that |
| building as located a 4375 Duraform Lane in Dane | | | | CdTe is worth four times as much as tellurium |
| County. | | | | dioxide. |
| 5N’s project submission delineates the first phase | | | | If the DeForest plant expands into chemical |
| of the recycling process as treating about 10,000 | | | | production, it has potentially two new customers; |
| tons in the first phase, with production rising as | | | | Q-Cells S.E.’s subsidiary, Calyxo, which works in |
| customer demand increases. The second phase of | | | | the area of CdTe thin-film technology, and Abound |
| the project, scheduled within the year, sees 5N | | | | Solar, another producer of thin-film cadmium telluride |
| recycling full laminated solar modules with 17 | | | | solar modules. |
| employees. | | | | 5N’s shift into recycling is not surprising, given |
| The move is seen as a way for 5N to diversify its | | | | the fact that world production of cadmium is 14 |
| financial base. Currently the company derives 85 | | | | tonnes per year, most of it coming from Canada, and |
| percent of yearly revenues by providing cadmium | | | | much of it used in batteries. |
| telluride to First Solar. However, First Solar company | | | | Tellurium is even scarcer, at less than 200 metric |
| officials were quick to emphasize that the recycling | | | | tons in 2008, and less than 800 metric tons total |
| initiative is not a joint effort between First Solar and | | | | from all sources. |
| 5N. | | | | |