The federal government will pilot a national solar panel recycling program to reduce landfill, increase availability of valuable minerals and help drive the transformation to cleaner and cheaper energy.
This will mean less waste and more access to valuable metals.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the government will invest $24.7 million over three years to deliver a national pilot for recycling solar panels and establish up to 100 pilot collection sites nationwide.
The need for this program is highlighted in a report from the Productivity Commission into circularity in Australia’s economy,” Bowen said pointing out that the report specifically recommended a solar panel recycling scheme.
“The PC’s report found there was scope to boost Australia’s circular economy through better coordination, regulatory design and innovation - especially for high value, high risk waste streams like solar panels.”
Australia leads the world in rooftop solar uptake, with more than one in three Australian homes now having solar panels installed.
Those panels contain valuable material and strategic minerals that can support the renewable energy transition, such as copper, silver and aluminium.
“Only 17 per cent of solar panels are currently recycled, and increasing this could unlock up to $7.3 billion in benefits through reduced waste and reuse of materials,” Bowen said.
“This pilot is an important step in ensuring we get the most out of our energy transition. Not only do solar panels create renewable energy – now they’ll be renewable themselves.
“By turning old solar panels into valuable resources, this scheme will create more local jobs, and power a future made in Australia, enticing greater investment in our booming solar industry.”
Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) CEO, Suzanne Toumbourou, said solar panels are too valuable for landfill.
“They contain materials that are essential to Australia’s future manufacturing capability, resource security and clean energy supply chains,” she said.
“Well-designed and properly governed recycling and product stewardship frameworks can help ensure end-of-life solar panels are responsibly collected, processed and reintegrated into the economy,”