Australia’s rooftop solar revolution has been a game-changer, slashing power bills and reducing emissions. However, behind this success story lies a looming challenge – the mounting issue of solar waste that requires urgent attention and innovative solutions.
As more households embrace solar energy and the federal government introduces subsidies for batteries, the industry is bracing for a significant surge in solar waste. Currently, over 4 million homes in Australia have adopted solar technology, resulting in more than 150 million panels across the country when considering commercial and large-scale systems.
With an estimated 4 million panels decommissioned annually due to system upgrades, this figure is set to double to 8 million as solar uptake increases, especially with the expected wave of upgrades driven by battery installations. Unfortunately, there is no mandatory recycling scheme in place for solar panels. Consequently, only around 10 percent of these panels are recycled while the rest either end up overseas or in landfills.
The absence of a national product stewardship scheme has left recyclers and investors in limbo since 2016. Darren Johannesen from the Smart Energy Council emphasizes the critical need for government intervention in establishing effective recycling mechanisms within the industry. He highlights how high costs hinder proper recycling practices:
“Right now it can cost up to $38 per panel just to get it from a house to a landfill or recycler.”
Despite there being seven active panel recyclers in Australia, they face significant economic challenges due to competition from exporters who offer free disposal services or pay cash for old panels. This situation poses both environmental and economic risks as valuable materials such as silver and copper within these panels go unutilized.
James Petesic, a recycler based in Western Sydney, points out that while some panels may be reused by exporters, many are likely destined for landfills:
“At the end of its life… it’ll be left in a field or landfill.”
While new laws have curbed some panel exports out of Australia, they have not fully addressed the overarching problem.
As battery uptake surges alongside declining solar feed-in tariffs, businesses like Jake Warner’s are finding themselves replacing old panels with newer systems that incorporate advanced technologies like battery storage and efficient inverters. However, inadequate infrastructure hampers effective recycling processes.
Experts warn that aside from environmental concerns, there is an impending scarcity of critical minerals like copper and silver globally. Mr. Johannesen underscores this issue by stating that
“the silver inside solar modules equates to Australia’s biggest silver mine.”
The International Energy Agency forecasts a potential 30 percent supply shortfall in copper worldwide without immediate action on recycling policies.
The consensus within the industry is clear – implementing a national product stewardship scheme is long overdue. A coordinated approach involving government support would not only benefit consumers by reducing costs but also foster job creation through materials recovery initiatives.
Without swift action taken collectively by stakeholders across the sector – including policymakers, businesses, and consumers – Australia risks squandering valuable resources crucial for powering its future energy needs. The time to act decisively on sustainable solutions for managing solar waste is now before we reach an irreversible tipping point.
Leave feedback about this