Solar energy will be crucial to delivering clean, reliable and affordable energy for generations to come – but what happens to all those solar panels when they reach the end of their life?

Australians have been enthusiastic adopters of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, with more than 3.5 million rooftop installations across Australia.

Queensland, with its particularly high levels of solar exposure[1] , has some of the highest rooftop solar penetration in the country, with solar panels now found on one in three homes.

An additional 7,400 MW of rooftop solar is forecast for Queensland by 2035, when the energy generated by rooftop solar alone is expected to be more than enough to cover the charging requirements of electric vehicles and domestic battery systems.

Solar farms – which group large collections of solar panels together – are also expected to play a crucial role in Queensland’s clean energy future. An additional 10,000 MW of large-scale solar capacity is expected by 2035, by which time 80 per cent of Queensland’s energy will come from renewables.

But while the sun is a renewable energy source, solar panels don’t last forever. And for the energy grid of the future to be truly sustainable, it’s important there are plans in place for these assets as they approach the end of their lifespans.

Recycling solar panels

They say all good things must come to an end, and solar panels are no exception. They generally have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, after which the performance of the panels will begin to falter – a process known as solar degradation – and they’ll need to be replaced.

Up to 95 per cent of the materials used to make a solar panel can be recycled. Materials such as aluminium, copper and glass can be removed and sold onto manufacturers to create new products.

But separating the components is a complex process, and to date, there is no legislation in place regarding end-of-life stewardship for the panels, which can lead to them ending up in landfill instead of being recycled.

With the Queensland Government anticipating that solar panel waste could account for some 17,000 tonnes by 2030, it’s important that a plan is in place for how these panels are dealt with as they reach the end of their life.

To that end, the Queensland Government has unveiled a draft E-Products Action Plan that would ban the dumping of solar panels in landfill within 10 years.

The Government is also piloting an industry-led Solar Stewardship Scheme, including the on-ground collection, recovery and processing of panels, with an initial focus on rooftop installations in regional areas.

The pilot program includes the formation of a Solar Stewardship Scheme Consultative Committee, including representatives from solar panel manufacturers, distributors, retailers, installers and certificate traders, recycling companies, regulators, local councils and the Queensland Government.

The committee will meet regularly during the trial period to share learnings that will inform the shape of the eventual Solar Stewardship Scheme, which is ultimately intended to divert end-of-life solar panels from landfill and facilitate the recovery of their useful materials.

Federally, the Australian Government has signalled its intentions to develop a product stewardship scheme for solar PV systems. Under the proposed scheme, which could begin as soon as 2025, manufacturers, developers and installers would be required to pay fees to fund drop-off, collection and recycling services for end-of-life panels.

Ultimately, as the sheer amount of solar panels coming to the end of their life span increases exponentially, the economies of scale will become more favourable for recycling – and as the energy market evolves, so too will the solutions for the problem of solar panel waste.