As global demand for renewable energy grows, solar panels have become a crucial tool in sustainable development and carbon reduction. In Taiwan the nationwide rooftop solar PV system installation plan promoted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Bureau of Energy is accelerating the installation of solar PV systems and advancing development of green energy, laying a solid foundation for future environmental protection. However, solar PV panels have a lifecycle of about 20 years, and approximately 0.5% are damaged annually due to typhoons. As many solar panels gradually reach the end of their service life, the Ministry of Environment estimates that Taiwan will produce over 100,000 tons of waste solar panels annually from 2035, accounting for about 1% of global waste. Thus, properly recycling solar panels to minimize their environmental impact is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.
Ute Collier, Deputy Director of the International Renewable Energy Agency, warned, ” It’s going to be a waste mountain of solar panel by 2050, unless we get recycling chains going now.”
Solar PV panels are mainly composed of glass (74.16%), aluminum frames (10.30%), silicon (3.35%), copper (0.57%), and other valuable metals and plastics. The structure is bonded with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer between silicon cells and glass and sealed with aluminum frames. With proper sorting and disassembly, these materials have high recycling value.
To address the waste modules issue that may arise from the large-scale installation of solar PV systems, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs have jointly planned a solar PV module recycling mechanism. Each solar panel is assigned a unique module serial numberduring production. When individuals or businesses need to replace solar panels, they must first register the module serial number, model, and quantity in the “Waste Solar PV Panel Recycling Service Management Information System” to ensure that the panel recycling meets processing requirements.
Taiwan’s solar PV panel recycling mechanism has been in place since 2019. According to the ” Regulations for Installation and Management of Renewable Energy Generation Equipment,” installers need to prepay a module recycling fee of NT$1,000 per kilowatt. This fee is incorporated into a module recycling fund established by the Ministry of Environment, and professional agencies will be responsible for recycling and reuse. In the future, The Ministry of Economic Affairs will continue to review and improve this mechanism with the Ministry of Environment.
Sources: Environmental Protection Administration Resource Recycling Division, Greenlinks, BBC
In the face of the challenge of solar panel recycling, TASS2024 is a crucial platform for exploring and developing recycling solutions. This exhibition will bring together leading experts, companies, and policymakers to share the latest technologies and case studies. This exhibition is committed to promoting technological innovation and industry collaboration, driving the recycling and reuse of solar panels, and helping to achieve a green and sustainable future.
