Solar panel recycling
Posted on 14th April 2025
We’re all interested in renewable solar energy solutions that can save money on energy bills. However, solar panels don’t last for ever. What happens to old solar panels when they reach the end of their life?
An electrical wholesaler, a waste management specialist, and a French solar panel recycling company, hope to offer a solution.
Together, they plan to provide a UK-wide collection and recycling service for spent solar panels. Responsible recycling and treatment of used solar panels will become an essential part of the renewable energy sector. Without effective solutions the UK will have to deal with millions of tonnes of solar panel waste by 2050.
The UK follows the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and treats solar panels as electronic waste. This means producers are responsible for collecting, treating and disposing of end-of-life panels. However, the situation isn’t straightforward. With growing pressure to improve waste management, the UK must invest in solar panel recycling solutions.
Why solar panels need replacing
While solar panels are relatively low maintenance, they degrade over time. Although they can last for 25 to 30 years, or even longer, their efficiency can decrease by up to 20%.
The main causes are:
wear and tear due to pollution, dust and debris
weather which can cause damage due to hailstones, for example, and a build-up of dirt
light can surprisingly cause damage that reduces efficiency over time
potential-induced degradation happens when electricity passing through solar panels causes a reaction with the materials used
excess heat and cold affect the conversion of light into electricity, limiting performance and causing damage
installation must take place with care to avoid damage due to poor positioning and faulty wiring
quality of materials can also affect the lifespan of solar panels.
Renewable energy and recycling
Currently, used solar panels are likely to go to landfill sites, stockpiles or illegal export. None of these options are good for the environment we’re hoping to protect.
The new partnership will handle, transport and process used panels in line with environmental standards and regulations.
Advanced recycling processes can then recover up to 95% of the value of photovoltaic (PV) cells. This includes silicon, silver, copper, aluminium, and high-transparency glass. Only 1% of materials will go to waste, helping to cut carbon emissions. Each tonne of recycled solar panels will save the same in CO2 emissions. The recycling process also significantly reduces the need to use new materials and allows reuse of valuable resources. In the future it could generate £billions in recoverable value across the solar panel industry.
Researchers and industries aim to develop even more efficient solutions. New materials and techniques, such as water-based recycling, could reduce material waste even further. Artificial intelligence and robotics could also simplify sorting and dismantling panels, making recycling faster and more cost-effective.
The MSE team is happy to discuss your solar panel installation and maintenance requirements, so please get in touch.
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