The federal government and states in Australia have agreed to develop a national scheme for the reuse and recycling of photovoltaic modules.Given Australia’s strong position in solar energy and expected growth in the coming years and decades, the creation of module recycling facilities is crucial. This will help maintain a circular economy and protect against shortages of rare materials such as copper and silver.
According to Potentia Energy (the new name of Enel Green Power Australia, following rebranding at the end of 2024), around 1.4 million solar photovoltaic modules in Australia will reach the end of their life cycle in 2025, highlighting the urgency of recycling initiatives.
The Australian Smart Energy Council estimates that around one-third of solar photovoltaic modules can be reused instead of being discarded.
It is expected that the annual volume of waste from solar modules in Australia will double over the next five years, from 59,340 tons in 2025 to 91,165 tons by 2030. The most significant increase in waste is expected in large cities due to domestic installations. According to a 2024 study by Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar, if Australia installs around 1 TW of solar modules over a period of around 25 years to keep the assets operational, the country will need to recycle around 40 GW of modules each year.
Source: https://www.pv-tech.org/