ARE SOLAR PANELS RECYCLABLE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFESPAN?

04.03.2025

Solar power is a clean, limitless, and eco-friendly energy source. However, all components of a solar power system have a limited lifespan, and people are understandably concerned about whether solar panels can harm the environment. The good news is that solar panels are fully recyclable today, and many countries around the world have already started implementing recycling programs.

Let’s explore the modern recycling processes that countries around the world are using, with ON Energy!

Solar panels are generally divided into two types: crystalline silicon solar panels and thin-film solar panels. Research into recycling solar panels has led to the invention of several recycling technologies. Some of these technologies can even achieve recycling efficiency rates of up to 96%!

Many countries are also researching technologies to make solar panel recycling even more efficient, lower in cost, and faster. Since 2018, the waste and water management group Veolia has operated a solar panel recycling plant in Rousset, southern France. This was the first solar panel recycling plant in Europe. Inside the plant, robots disassemble solar panels to recover glass, silicon, plastics, copper, and silver, crushing them into particles that can be used to manufacture new panels. The plant contracted with the non-profit organization PV Cycle to recycle 1,300 tons of solar panels in 2018. Recently, Veolia announced that this plant can recycle 40 tons of solar panels each year. Recycling 1 ton of solar panels is equivalent to preventing 1.2 tons of CO2 emissions.

Source: greenmatch.co.uk

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