Australia leads the world in the installation of solar systems, but what happens to the panels when they invariably reach end-of-life?
According to the Australian Photovoltaic Institute, in September 2024 there were over 3.92 million PV installations in Australia, with a combined capacity of over 37.8 gigawatts.
Solar panels have a limited lifespan, however, of around 25 years maximum if they are not damaged beforehand. So their disposal, whenever it happens, has the potential to cause considerable environmental chaos.
Quite apart from the size of the panels themselves taking up space in landfill, there is the issue of the materials inherent in all electronic waste, such as glass, copper, lead, zinc.
According to Keep Australia Beautiful, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT have banned the disposal of solar panels into landfill, with Western Australia to follow in 2024. This has led to the development of methods to break down the units into their recyclable elements, and a growing industry of specialised e-waste recyclers, such as ReSource and PV Industries.
ReSource is an Australian firm that specialises in recycling all things electronic, from batteries through whitegoods, computers and televisions to solar panels. They are based in Victoria.
PV Industries are based in Sydney and Melbourne, and provide solar panel and photovoltaic system waste services including the decommissioning, collection and recycling for both residential and commercial customers.
Both these companies are currently managing to recycle around 100 tonnes of silicon-based solar panels, with about 90% of the panel’s weight currently being recycled, with valuable resources such as aluminium, copper and glass, being sold on to manufacturers who use them to create new products.
Energy.gov.au warns that it is important to hire a licensed electrician to remove or replace components of a solar system, and recommends contacting either your retailer or installer.
Alternatively, look for a solar installer accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia, as they will know what to look for and will work safely. It might cost a small fee, but you can ask your solar retailer or installer to take away parts of the solar system you no longer need.
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