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Solar PV has emerged as the primary technology for new additions to electricity generation capacity. While this marks a substantial milestone, it raises a crucial concern regarding the future of these panels once they reach the end of their operational lifespan.

In April, GTM published research indicating that solar panels can be safely disposed of in landfills without posing risks to human health. While this is positive news, it is important to note that landfills are not the most optimal solution for managing waste from the solar industry. With the projected global cumulative mass of end-of-life PV modules estimated to reach 8 million metric tons by 2030, the need to enhance recycling rates has become an increasingly crucial concern for the industry.

According to Garvin Heath, a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and co-author of a study conducted by the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on Photovoltaics Power Systems, the primary challenge with recycling PV materials is the higher cost compared to landfill disposal.

Garvin Heath, a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and co-author of a study conducted by the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on Photovoltaics Power Systems, explains that the major obstacle in recycling PV materials lies in the higher expenses involved compared to simply disposing of them in landfills.

Heath informed GTM that currently, there is only a single recycling facility for crystalline silicon worldwide, and it is located in France.

In order to address this issue, the recently published IEA paper on crystalline silicon PV recycling presents five research recommendations aimed at assisting the solar industry.