Australia has positioned itself as one of the global leaders in solar energy in recent years, reaping the benefits of the nation’s warm climate to decarbonise the energy sector.
However, the country will need to sustainably dispose of 80 million solar panels in the coming years when they reach their end of life – a significant challenge that must be overcome to ensure this renewable energy source remains environmentally friendly.
Professor Peter Majewski of the University of South Australia explained: “Australia has one of the highest uptakes of solar panels in the world, which is outstanding, but little thought has been given to the significant volume of panels ending up in landfill 20 years down the track when they need to be replaced.”
To improve solar panel recycling, the team’s study, ‘Product stewardship considerations for solar photovoltaic panels,’ outlines how incentivising producers to design solar panels that can be easily recycled could help establish a lucrative second-hand economy for solar cells.
Majewski added: “There are some simple recycling steps that can be taken to reduce the waste volume, including removing the panels’ frames, glass covers and solar connectors before they are disposed of.
“Landfill bans are already in place in Victoria, following the lead of some European countries, encouraging existing installers to start thinking about recyclable materials when making the panels.”