Waste from solar panels hardly a problem.
According to the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), the waste from solar panels will not pose a significant problem. Although the deployment of solar panels is proliferating and recycling still needs to gain ground, the environmental impacts of discarded solar panels are manageable.
Waste
The energy transition is in full swing, with solar energy playing a significant role. The price of solar panels continues to drop, and they are becoming more efficient. Therefore, solar energy plays a crucial role in the energy transition. This effect is further amplified by electrification.
The production of many solar panels means a significant amount of waste in the long term. However, ISES says this is not as bad as it seems. Firstly, the amount of waste is less than one would expect. The average electricity consumption in a prosperous country is 7 to 12 MWh per person per year. This will double to enable the electrification of transportation, heating, and industry. Some countries will need additional electricity to decarbonize the chemical industry. Most of this electricity will come from solar energy, supported by wind and hydropower. Assuming an average of 20 MWh of solar energy per person per year, each person needs 15 kW of solar panels. The lifespan of the panels is 20 to 30 years. This translates to approximately 3 m2 of solar panel waste per person per year, with a mass of about 30 kg. This is not much when considering that each Dutch person produces 490 kilograms of waste annually. Additionally, the average CO2 emissions are currently 13,000 kilograms per person per year.
Recycling
Most materials in solar panels can be recovered and recycled, including the aluminum frame, electrical cables, glass, silicon, and conductive metals such as copper, aluminum, and silver. The rest of the panel is primarily made of glass, which is non-toxic, and its raw materials are inexhaustible. If solar panels were to be completely thrown into landfills, they would increase the glass waste stream by two-thirds, which is significant. However, due to the high quality of the discarded solar glass, it can easily be reused, including for producing new solar panels.
In developing countries, the use of solar panels is gaining ground. Many panels used here are those replaced in the West by more efficient, double-sided glass panels. Trucks delivering the new panels also take back the old ones, sort them, and send them for a second life elsewhere. As the PV industry grows, specialist companies will emerge to recycle discarded solar panels sustainably. Since the amount of PV materials to be recycled will not be significant, no unique recycling technology or logistics is required.
Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy
Recycled solar panels have generated significant amounts of electricity and thus prevented CO2 emissions during their lifespan. This amounts to 20 tons of CO2 emissions per person. It seems that solar panel waste will not be an insurmountable problem, but solar energy does provide a remarkable environmental benefit.
