We all know that solar energy is beneficial to the environment. However, if you buy solar panels and/or a battery, you want to know that they won’t end up in a landfill when their lifespan ends in about a quarter-century.
Solar panels and batteries can be recycled
Solar panels and batteries are recyclable, and technologies for doing so exist. You can pay a company in Australia to come and pick up your old solar panels from anywhere in the country. There are other companies which the solar for tenants can check who manage battery recycling. You can drop off a battery, have it picked up, or even transport it to the company.
New technologies, such as upcycling, are now being tested in addition to recycling which is widely acknowledged by the landlord solar enthusiasts.
Can solar panels be recycled?
Certain pieces of old and broken solar panels, like other electrical products, can be recycled. However, because some of the materials require careful extraction, this is usually done by a licenced solar panel recycling plant.
Australia is expected to accrue one million tonnes of solar panel waste by 2047, according to Macquarie University, with the figure likely to rise as more people upgrade their systems prematurely. To help photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight into power, solar panels contain hazardous substances like lead.
In trying to adapt with the 2.3 million houses with rooftop solar, solar recycling will need to be increased up over the next decade or so. However, because solar panels have a 20-30 year longevity and have primarily been placed since roughly 2010, we have another 10 years or so to ramp up these capacities. Batteries have a 10-15 year lifespan as well, and the use of domestic solar batteries has only recently increased.
These chemicals can leak out when old and broken panels are discarded in landfills, posing a threat to the environment. Homeowners are encouraged to recycle outdated and unwanted solar panels in order to avoid waste.
Certain sections of a solar panel can be recycled far more easily than others. The most valuable parts of a solar panel are the glass, aluminium frames, polymers, silicon, copper, and silver paste, which may be recycled up to 95%. The silver paste and aluminium frames obtained through this method are highly valuable. Through a sophisticated recycling process, about 80% of crystalline silicon can be recovered.
Is it okay to wait for recycling?
You might be doing more harm than good by waiting for solar recycling technologies to catch up because you’re concerned about your environmental impact. Solar panels produce sustainable energy that replaces the coal-based electricity you would buy from your utility, while batteries maximise the use of that solar energy and reduce the need to buy any of that dirty power. As a result, the earlier you switch to solar, the sooner you’ll begin to reduce your carbon impact. Recycling will be able to scale up in 10-15 years. Lithium ion solar battery technology is similar to that seen in laptops and mobile phones. But that doesn’t stop you from getting one, does it?
Where can you recycle old solar panels in Australia?
Solar panels are recycled in Australia’s certified recycling factories. Solar panels and goods are currently recycled by six major companies: Reclaim PV, PV Industries, SolaCycle, CMA Ecocycle, and Ecoactiv. It’s crucial to remember, however, that because this process has yet to be optimised, these services may come at an additional expense to bill-payers. Customers may also be required to bring the old panels to the company.
How is solar panel battery recycled?
In Australia, solar batteries can also be recycled at waste management centres and certified recycling factories. Solar batteries should be recycled since they include lithium-ion, which can have a significant impact on carbon emissions if dumped in landfills. According to the CSIRO, Australia will have 100,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste by 2036 if the current rate of recycling solar batteries, which is 2%, does not increase.
Planning to dispose solar panels?
Solar installers may sometimes dispose of your old solar panels for you when they install a new one. However, most of the time, the client is responsible for disposing of the old solar system. While recycling is an apparent option for getting rid of old solar panels, there are a few more options that avoid landfills.
Pay for the disposal of e-waste
One option for getting rid of outdated solar panels is to charge for them to be collected through e-waste. Except for Victoria, almost every state in Australia has an e-waste programme. In Australia, however, e-waste is gradually being discouraged, as dangerous substances such as lead, mercury, and arsenic found in batteries and electrical outlets account for 70% of all e-waste.
Sell the used solar panels
If you want to get a decent return on your old solar panels and they’re still functional, it can be considering selling them as a used item or selling them to friends. Not only will you be able to make a modest profit, but you will also be preventing landfills from being used for a few more years and allowing someone else to utilize and produce renewable energy.
Use the old solar panels for camping
Rather than tossing out the old panels, consider attaching them to a campervan or altering them for camping, giving for self-generated electricity when off the grid. Using an old solar panel for camping may just be a saving grace when on vacation, whether it’s installed on the roof of your campervan or retooled to be its own perched solar panel for a camp. If DIY isn’t your thing, you can also buy solar panels designed specifically for camping.
Should I recycle the solar panels?
While there are environmental benefits to recycling old solar panels, there is currently no simplified mechanism for doing so, making it a costly and cumbersome process for bill-payers. Recycling your old solar panels is a terrific method to get rid of them, but if the costs are prohibitive, there are plenty of other options. You might be able to work out a deal with your solar installation to have them take care of it when they upgrade your old system, but keep in mind that they may not recycle it!
