Anthropocene Magazine · Climate & nature

Recycling solar panels could yield up to $1 trillion in economic benefits

Discarded solar panels, projected to reach hundreds of millions of tonnes by 2060, pose a significant waste problem. However, a new study suggests that proper recycling could unlock nearly $1 trillion in economic benefits and contribute to global decarbonization goals.

Solar power is rapidly expanding globally, but the end-of-life disposal of solar panels presents a growing waste challenge. Projections indicate that between 297 and 402 million tonnes of solar panels will be discarded by 2060. A study published in Nature highlights that these discarded panels could generate almost $1 trillion in economic benefits if recycled effectively. The international research team emphasizes that recycling is crucial not only for environmental reasons but also to secure materials for future solar installations and support global decarbonization efforts.

Currently, ineffective or broken solar panels often end up in landfills, where they can leach toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium into the environment. These panels also contain valuable materials such as silicon, silver, copper, and tellurium, which could be reused. However, existing commercial recycling technologies struggle to recover these materials at sufficient purity cost-effectively, and there is a lack of industrial-scale recycling operations.

China, the largest PV producer, has mandated manufacturers to manage end-of-life panels, and many are exploring pilot recycling projects. The study notes that recycling capabilities are unevenly distributed globally, with high- and middle-income regions possessing the most capacity. To address this, researchers developed a computer model analyzing various recycling scenarios. They found that combining region-specific technologies with outsourced recycling offers the greatest benefits, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3.32 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent and generating $530 to $935 billion in net benefits by 2060.

The study suggests that a declining subsidy model, which reduces financial support as recycling becomes commercially viable, could promote more equitable recycling. Furthermore, international cooperation, similar to the Paris Agreement, should focus on technology transfer and funding to build recycling capacity in low-income regions. The researchers propose that regionally adapted strategies and international collaboration are key to achieving equitable and scalable circularity for photovoltaic waste.

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