Recycling Old Solar Panels

Let s take a look at what the plans are for trying to minimise the environmental impact and maximise the value of a used solar panel.

Recycling old solar panels.

This poses a problem for decommissioning arrays since california s the largest solar market in the united states. It s not rocket science testing old solar panels stripping the plastic sheet off the back and repairing replacing the faulty modules so the panel can have a second life. This is responsible recycling smashing and burying old solar panels is bordering on criminal. Recycling solar panels will there be a waste crisis for old panels.

So today 35 years after solar s first small waves there s a limited number of people now looking for what to do with their old solar panels. The firm already receives a trickle of panels in cases where panels were damaged during delivery or installation or were factory seconds which accounts for 99 of their recycling. The international renewable energy agency irena predicts 90 million tons of old solar panels will be ready to recycle around the year 2050. As the oldest ones expire get ready for a solar e waste glut.

Bringing panel recycling stateside. The state of california passed senate bill 489 in 2015 which designated photovoltaic solar panels as hazardous materials. Meaning the technology cannot be disposed of in landfills in the state.