End of Life Recycling of PV Systems

The falling cost of photovoltaic (PV) panels has made the technology more accessible, but it is important to consider recycling and disposal to mitigate environmental impacts at the end of their life.

Recycling of life-expired PV panels ensures safe disposal and provides raw materials for repurposing. It is possible to recycle 90% of the glass and 95% of the semi-conductor materials, which can be used in the manufacture of new PV cells.

PV panel waste management is regulated under The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (as amended), where such waste is defined as e-waste. This means that manufacturers are bound by law to fulfil specific legal requirements and recycling standards. Producers of PV panels are responsible for the disposal and recycling of the modules they sell, and they may offer take-back and recycling programmes. The end-of-life recycling should be factored into planning for a PV system.