How are solar panels recycled and what are the current limitations and challenges? Here we explore these important questions.
The rapid growth of solar energy in the UK has led to an increased focus on the sustainable management of solar panel waste.
As the lifespan of solar panels reaches its end, proper recycling becomes crucial to minimise their environmental impact, recover valuable materials, and promote their reuse.
This guide explores the current process of recycling solar panels in the UK, highlighting the importance of responsible disposal and the initiatives being undertaken to address this growing concern.
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Solar Panel Recycling Key Points:
With a rise in solar panels, we are facing a substantial increase in solar waste in the years and decades ahead.
There is a need for more solar panel recycling facilities and further innovations to increase the efficiency of the process.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the recycling of solar panels could potentially result in 2 billion recycled panels by 2050.
Solar panel recycling can offer numerous benefits including the recovery of rare materials.
Existing regulations and industry efforts are already pushing toward a more sustainable future for solar panels during and after their lifespan.
You can contact your solar panel manufacturer for details on the collection and recycling of your old units.
Are Solar Panels Recyclable?
Yes, the good news is that the majority of the components used in solar panels are able to be recycled.
This is because solar panels are largely composed of reusable materials like aluminium, glass and silicon.
During the recycling process, these constituent parts are separated and processed in a way that means they can be reused again, potentially in future solar panels.
The major concern at present is whether or not the current recycling industry is adequately prepared for future solar panel waste, which is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades.
However, the good news is that there are a lot of initiatives already being undertaken to ensure the country is well prepared.
Why is Recycling Solar Panels Important?
According to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), by the end of 2022, the UK had over 1.2 million solar installations nationwide.
Installation rates have increased as more and more households have opened their minds to solar array installation on their property.
Among the reasons why households may want a solar panel installation include their ability to reduce energy bills, reduce reliance on the National Grid and limit their carbon footprint.
However, amid their rise in popularity, concerns are growing over the issue of solar panel waste.
While solar panels often last 25-30 years, some run their course sooner and thus installations from the 2000s and 2010s are already being disposed of.
This leaves us with a pressing need to recycle solar panels. After all, improper disposal of solar panels can lead to a myriad of negative environmental effects including potential harm from hazardous materials.
For example, materials such as cadmium and lead (at sufficient levels) can be harmful to the environment and human health.
Effectively, solar panels, if improperly disposed of can be a form of hazardous waste.
Components of Solar Panels
Solar panels consist of a wide array of materials such as aluminium, silicon cells, cadmium telluride and more.
They may also include glass or plastic depending on the manufacturer.
The most common semiconductor material used for solar cells is silicon.
More specifically, either monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon is used, representing the two primary types of solar panels on the market.
Along with the downsides of improperly disposing of these materials, their high-value materials mean that their reuse is lucrative, making the case for recycling solar panels even stronger.
Precious materials included in a solar panel may include copper and silver. With these materials being rare, their value for reuse in future solar panels is self-evident.
Check out our full in-depth article on whether solar is worth it in the UK.
The Solar Panel Recycling Process
The recycling process can differ depending on whether it is a silicon-based panel or a thin-film panel being recycled.
Silicon-based Solar Panels
Here is an overview of the silicon-based solar panel recycling process:
The panels are collected and transported to dedicated recycling facilities.
Your panel’s manufacturer will probably be the one to collect your panels.
Materials are separated to make the most of the recycling process.
The glass casing and aluminium frame are dismantled in a controlled manner.
Thermal processing takes place to remove small plastic components by evaporating them using extreme heat. Most of the cell modules are maintained.
The panel’s silicon wafers are then converted into reusable slabs with the majority of the silicon being reused.
Thin-film Solar Panels
As for thin-film solar panels, this is generally how these panels are recycled:
The panels are collected and transported to dedicated recycling facilities. Your panel’s manufacturer will probably be the one to collect your panels.
Thin-film panels are put into a shredder and then a hammermill. The panel is broken up into tiny fragments.
A large rotating screw is then required to separate solid and liquid materials that emerge from the first step.
Acid and peroxide are used to remove the semiconductor material (e.g. Cadmium telluride) from the panel’s glass.
These processes can recover valuable materials (e.g. silicon, glass, and various materials) that can then be used to build more solar panels.
With solar usage likely to only increase further in the decades ahead, it appears paramount that solar recycling takes off now to get ahead of the emerging issue of solar waste, which is likely to become far bigger in the 2030s and beyond.
What Should You Do With Old Solar Panels?
First things first, don't be tempted to send your old solar panels off to the regular landfill.
Recycling them is an easy and straightforward process.
In fact, every solar panel company (importer or manufacturer) in the UK is mandated to be a member of the Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS), such as the Government-approved PV CYCLE.
This scheme, together with relevant EU regulations means that your solar panel manufacturer is legally obliged to take your old panels from you.
Therefore, in order to get your solar panels recycled, the best route is to contact your solar panels manufacturer who will collect them and take them to a Dedicated Collection Facility (DCF) prior to them being sent to a relevant recycling facility.
How Much Does Recycling Solar Panels Cost?
Since recycling solar panels is the legal obligation of the manufacturer or importer, the cost is not something the consumer has to be concerned with.
That means that the cost for you will be nothing.
Benefits of Solar Panel Recycling
There are obviously numerous advantages to recycling solar panels, including reducing landfill waste, conserving and reusing rare materials, and reducing carbon emissions.
There are also a mix of financial and economic upsides to recycling solar panels too.
For one, it can lead to job creation with the potential for a robust recycling industry.
What’s more, recycling panels can reduce the cost of manufacturing new ones and increase the number of panels in circulation.
As a result, this should help to bring down prices over time.
The International Renewable Energy Agency or IRENA, will recover raw materials from solar panels totalling a value of $450 million by 2030 and an incredible $15 billion by 2050.
IRENA also predicts that some two billion panels can be produced through recycling alone between now and mid-century!
A final area worth considering is goodwill and PR.
Ensuring that solar panels are properly recycled in an eco-friendly manner, will help to reduce concerns among the public that solar may not be as green as is claimed.
By recycling solar panels properly and more efficiently (with future innovations/developments), question marks over solar being green will likely dissipate as a consequence.
Still, learning about solar? Check out our guides on how many solar panels you need and how solar car charging works.
Challenges and Innovations
There are a whole host of issues associated with solar panel recycling, not to mention the need for new innovations.
Lack of Standardised Recycling Processes
As alluded to, solar panels require specialised recycling in order to break them down effectively and ensure that as many precious materials are recovered as possible.
This means a mix of public and private investment is needed to ensure that solar panel recycling services take off and ultimately keep up with a demand that is bound to increase substantially in the years and decades ahead.
This not only requires specialised facilities/services to process solar panels effectively but also more individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to work at said services.
Need for Improved Infrastructure
Along with the creation of high-quality facilities for the process of discontinued solar panels, it’s important that the infrastructure and equipment used are not only of a high standard but can advance further.
Research and Innovations
Expanding on the above point, ongoing research and innovations are key to improving recycling efficiency.
This includes the development of advanced sorting technologies and innovative recycling methods.
Another angle to solar panel recycling innovations is ongoing efforts to build fully recyclable solar panels, which can make the process more efficient by default.
For instance, announced just this year, two Dutch manufacturers (Solarge and material manufacturer Econcore) are attempting to develop lightweight, fully-recyclable solar panel design.
Efforts like these across the world will all play a role in laying the groundwork for an emerging industry that has a much better chance of keeping up with growing needs for the recycling of solar arrays.
We have also reviewed the best solar panels and covered how long solar panels last in the UK.
Regulatory Framework and Industry Initiatives
Thankfully, existing laws can already be seen as laying the foundations for solar panel recycling to enjoy a positive future, even if more regulations are arguably needed.
Beyond that, the industry is also taking steps to prepare for the future.
Solar Manufacturer Responsibilities
The UK’s producer responsibility regulations mandate that producers take steps to limit waste arising from their products and to take steps to promote their reuse.
Secondly, the regulations require that waste products are treated along with meeting recovery and recycling targets.
Moreover, producers must design producers by lowering material use and increasing their recyclability and reusability.
These rules thus already establish a legal framework that pushes solar panel manufacturers to move in the right direction to ensure that recycling panels becomes an easier and hopefully more efficient process in the future.
In addition, all solar panel companies in the UK whether they be a producer or importer are obliged to take part in a Producer Compliance Scheme or PCS.
The purpose of this is to mandate that solar panels are collected and recycled in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.
When considering solar energy, it’s important to understand solar panel sizes and how they impact installation and energy output, as well as to stay informed with the latest solar statistics on the growing adoption of renewable energy in the UK. Additionally, you might be eligible for solar panel grants that can help reduce installation costs, making solar more affordable. To ensure your system runs efficiently, proper cleaning of solar panels is key, while weighing up the pros and cons of solar power can help you make a well-informed decision about whether it’s the right choice for your home.
Environmental Protection Act
Another piece of legislation worth mentioning is the Environmental Protection Act which relates to waste on land, waste management and local authority duties for waste collection.
Further, businesses have a duty to make sure any waste produced by their company is dealt with within the law and in a safe manner.
Ultimately, anyone behind the production, importation, transportation, containment, treatment, or disposal of controlled waste has a duty of care under these regulations. This also applies to brokers who have control of such waste.
In the context of solar recycling, this means that all relevant parties have a duty to ensure that solar waste is dealt with in a way that does not cause harm to the environment.
Considering that solar panels contain potentially hazardous materials, this mandates that they are disposed of properly.
As solar waste becomes an increasing issue, manufacturers risk running into major challenges to meet their legal obligations. That is why it’s important that manufacturers and the government take further steps to ensure a sustainable solar future.
Industry Efforts
There already exist several solar panel recycling companies in the UK including H&H Pro, ILM Highland, and Recycle Solar Technologies.
Furthermore, around 70% of Europe’s solar manufacturers are part of the worldwide PV Cycle Network.
This network, while not mandatory in itself, supports producers in their efforts to meet their legal obligations as part of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.
While this is EU legislation, the UK has remained part of the directive post-Brexit.
The PV Cycle Network also helps producers take an active role in ensuring their products are sustainable when produced and throughout their use.
Of course, even with the current regulatory framework and industry efforts, without more innovation, investment, and the creation of new facilities, we could be left with a real environmental crisis in the next decade or so.
Simply put, a surge of old solar panels that need disposing of but a small number of facilities means that there isn't going to be enough to keep up with demand.
This again emphasises the need for increased public and private investment to ensure we get ahead of this issue before it becomes a crisis, both environmentally and for the reputation of solar technology at large.
If you are researching solar panel companies, you may find our resources valuable. Check out our comprehensive comparison of the best solar panel companies in the UK, learn about the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) process, and explore our detailed solar panel guide and solar advice section for expert insights and recommendations.
Consumer Responsibilities and Guidance
Of course, it isn’t just up to solar manufacturers and recycling facilities to ensure a greener and more sustainable future.
When a solar panel reaches the end of its life, it’s important to find certified and reputable recycling facilities to collect and recycle your worn-down panel(s).
In order to find a certified and reputable facility, simply contact your solar panel’s manufacturer.
They’ll probably offer to take your discontinued panels to a dedicated solar panel recycling facility.
Otherwise, when searching for a solar panel recycling service, ensure the following:
Their process is broadly aligned with the processes discussed above (e.g. they do not send any panels to landfills).
The facility has positive reviews online (if applicable).
Use good judgment when evaluating their websites to get a sense of their levels of experience and professionalism.
The good news is that solar recycling shouldn’t cost you a penny as it is the manufacturer who will generally deal with the waste themselves.
However, if this is not the case, you may need to get a quote from a recycling facility directly.
Solar Panel Recycling Conclusion
As the UK continues to expand its solar energy capacity, the responsible recycling of solar panels becomes increasingly important.
Through effective recycling processes, the industry can reduce its environmental impact, recover valuable materials, and foster a sustainable circular economy.
Emphasising the significance of recycling and raising awareness among consumers, manufacturers, and policymakers will contribute to a greener future where solar panel waste is minimised and valuable resources are utilised efficiently.
Momentum must gather, however, to ensure that the emerging solar recycling industry is prepared for an increased number of defunct solar panels that require recycling.
Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:
When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation.
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