Solar Panel Recycling

It’s thought there are around 1.5 million solar panels installed on UK homes. This figure started to take off around 2010 when the government introduced feed-in tariffs as a form of subsidy. 

Solar panels have a typical lifespan of 25-30 years. With some installations taking place after the turn of the century, we’re now reaching a point where the first generation of modern solar panels is approaching retirement. It means we’re entering the era of a new challenge – what happens to solar panels at the end of their life?

Not having an effective recycling solution for solar panels would be an environmental disaster. In this guide, we’ll take a look at solar panel recycling, the benefits, the process involved and the current state of solar panel recycling in the UK.

Yes, solar panels are indeed recyclable. 

In fact, standard solar panel recycling facilities can recover around 95% of the materials. With the most advanced machinery and processes, this recycling figure can reach an impressive 98%. 

There are two main types of solar panels: 

  • Silicon-based (including monocrystalline and polycrystalline) 
  • Thin-film panels

Both types of solar panels can be recycled, but the processes differ slightly due to their compositions. Silicon-based panels, which make up over 90% of the market share thanks to their higher efficiency, are the most common type found on residential rooftops.

What are solar panels made from and what can be recovered?

A solar panel is primarily made from glass and aluminium, but they also contain a number of other materials. Here’s the main list of solar panel materials:

  • Glass
  • Aluminium
  • Silicon
  • Copper
  • Plastic
  • Silver
  • Lead

The silicon cells, which are responsible for converting sunlight into electricity, are the most valuable component. However, they’re also the most challenging to recycle to a high level of purity.

The reason that solar panels are tricky to recycle is because each component requires a specific recycling process to maximise material recovery and minimise environmental impact. Although difficult, with the right facility set-up, high levels of recyclability can be achieved.

The solar industry has experienced remarkable growth, expanding by an average of 33% annually over the past 12 years. Whilst this growth is excellent news for renewable energy adoption, it also means we’re facing a significant waste management challenge in the coming decades.

Experts project that by 2050, we could be dealing with as much as 60 million tonnes of solar panel PV waste across the globe. If effective recycling isn’t in place, all of this solar waste will end up in landfill. 

Solar panels have quite a long lifespan of around 20-25 years, sometimes longer. At the same time, this lifespan can be shorter if homes and businesses decide to replace their PV panels earlier due to drops in efficiency or when more powerful models become available. 

Factors such as corrosion, discoloration, delamination and cracks caused by environmental influences can affect panel performance over time.

Currently, only about 10% of global solar panel waste is recycled. This low percentage is due to a lack of established recycling systems, processes and awareness of the potential impact of this waste.

The environmental implications of poor solar panel disposal are significant. These panels are a type of electronic waste and contain materials, such as lead and plastics, along with other heavy metals. These materials can leach out into the soil and water to cause long-term environmental damage.

As a society, we don’t want to create a new environmental problem whilst solving another.

Benefits of solar panel recycling

Recycling solar panels offers numerous benefits, both environmental and economic. Let’s take a look.

  • Reduces waste in landfill – The less waste going to landfill, the better.  
  • Conserves natural resources – By reclaiming materials from end-of-life panels, we decrease the demand for mining and refining new resources. This helps preserve natural habitats and biodiversity by minimising land disturbance and pollution from extraction activities.
  • Less energy – The recycling process for silicon requires just a third of the energy needed for virgin silicon production, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with panel manufacturing.
  • Value of raw materials – By 2030 the raw materials recovered from recycled solar panels could be worth an estimated $450 million. By 2050, the recovered raw materials could be worth $15 billion.
  • Recycled materials to produce new panels – By 2030, this recovered material could be used to produce up to 60 million new solar panels. Looking further ahead to 2050, when global PV waste is projected to reach 5 million tonnes a year, around 3 billion new panels could be made with the recycled materials. As the solar market expands, there’s potential for a thriving circular economy in panel materials.
  • New jobs – The recycling industry itself creates new job opportunities, contributing to economic growth. further enhancing the sustainability of the solar industry.

How do solar panels get recycled?

With solar panels containing numerous materials, the process of recycling involves several steps with each designed to recover different components efficiently. 

The exact process can vary depending on the type of panel and the recycling facility, but here’s a quick overview of the process to give you an idea.

  1. Collection and transportation –  The process begins with the collection of end-of-life panels from homes, businesses or solar farms. These are then transported to specialised recycling facilities.
  2. Disassembly – The first step at the recycling facility is to remove the aluminium frame and junction box. These are easily recyclable and can be processed separately.
  3. Separation of glass The panels are then crushed or shredded. The glass, which makes up a significant portion of the panel, is separated. Up to 95% of the glass can be recovered and repurposed.
  4. Material processing – Some facilities use various solvents and chemical reactions to separate and purify the remaining materials. For example, acid leaching can be used to recover high-purity silicon and other metals. A process called pyrolysis can also be used, which places the materials into high temperatures (400-600°C) in a controlled environment. This breaks down the materials, separating it from the silicon cells and other metals.
  5. Recovery of metals – Metals like copper, silver and aluminium are extracted and can be reused in new products.
  6. Silicon recovery – The silicon cells, which are the most valuable and challenging to recycle, undergo further processing to be repurposed.

The solar panel recycling industry is still in its early stages in the UK. Despite this, small progress is being made. 

Currently, there are a few dedicated solar panel recycling facilities in the country. Examples here include Recycle Solar in Scunthorpe and Waste Experts in Huddersfield, which provide nationwide collection services.

However, due to limited local capacity, many panels are still sent to a Veolia-owned facility in France for recycling. This highlights the need for increased recycling infrastructure within the UK to handle the growing volume of end-of-life panels. There are also start up companies, such as SolRecycle, who are currently collecting panels and raising money to buy the machinery for a factory facility in the UK.  

UK regulations

Regulations will play a crucial role in shaping the solar panel recycling landscape. 

The UK’s producer responsibility regulations require manufacturers to take steps to limit waste and promote reuse. Under these regulations, all solar panel companies in the UK, whether producers or importers, are obliged to participate in a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS). This scheme ensures that solar panels are collected and recycled in a sustainable manner.

For homeowners, the good news is that recycling is free for those with less than 20 panels. This is the case for the vast majority of homes with solar. 

The UK is still in line with the EU’s, which says that producers have to finance 

Thanks to EU regulations via the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (which still apply post-Brexit), solar panel installers are legally obliged to arrange the removal of old panels. If they can’t do this themselves, they have to finance a government-approved Distributor Takeback Scheme (DTS) to facilitate the collection and recycling of end-of-life panels. 

With solar energy set to play an even more important role in our transition to a low-carbon future, addressing the end-of-life management of solar panels is imperative. Effective recycling not only mitigates potential environmental risks but also recovers valuable materials, supports a circular economy and enhances the overall sustainability of solar energy. It’s a must. 

So, when it’s time to replace your solar panels, just get in touch with a solar panel recycling company or your original installer to find out the next steps.

About the author 

Ben Hardman

Ben is a professional writer and the creator of sustainable living website TinyEco.com.
It's here where he helps people to reduce their environmental impact through simple, everyday choices. Away from the laptop, Ben loves spending time in the natural environment with his young family and Murphy the cocker spaniel.

Experience:
First Class BSc Biology degree (environmental and climate change focus)
Six years of working and writing in the environmental sector, including two years working at an international sustainability consultancy
Written for Ethical Consumer magazine, My Mother Tree, Unsustainable Magazine, Happy Eco News, Emission Index, PeakDistrict.org
Commented in The Independent, The Guardian, GreenMatch. Also featured on Radio 1's environmental special 'Minute of Me'

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