Are solar panels recyclable? If you’re interested in solar panels because you’re trying to reduce your overall “carbon footprint,” it’s only natural to wonder if the panels themselves are recyclable or will sit in landfills after their expected lifespan!
The good news is that solar panels are composed mostly of glass, plastic, and aluminum, and these materials are recycled in abundance. The bad news is that not every recycling center currently accepts solar panels for breakdown and reuse. To better understand this challenge and what happens to solar panels after their use, check out some added information about how these panels are recycled and why solar is such an eco-friendly option overall.
The short answer is that yes, solar panels are mostly recyclable:
Therefore, 95% of solar panel materials are RECYCLABLE!
This process is somewhat labor-intensive, as solar panels are designed and built to last for decades. Adhesives and connectors holding them together are also not meant to be torn apart easily!
Because they’re so rugged and durable, it takes some effort and specialized equipment to dismantle solar panels for recycling. As not all recycling centers have the right equipment and staff to dismantle solar panels easily, they may not accept these panels for recycling or reuse.
Solar panels typically have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, and note that solar power became very popular during the early 2000s, so many if not most solar panels manufactured for private consumers are still in use today! While solar power demands have grown in the past decade or so, there has not yet been too much demand for recycling options, since those panels haven’t yet reached the end of their expected lifespan.
However, demands for solar panel recycling options have grown and solar panel installers are aware of the need for more recycling options. Not only will solar panels eventually reach their expected lifespan but some panels get damaged while in transit or during the manufacturing process, and some property owners decide to upgrade or replace their panels before the end of their lifespan.
Your first choice in recycling solar panels is to call the company that sold them to you initially; if that company is no longer in business or otherwise unreachable, try another solar panel installation contractor near you. He or she might take old panels or offer suggestions for local recycling facilities that manage solar panel disassembly and recycling.
If you’re shopping for new panels, note to your installer that you have current panels you’d like to recycle. He or she should be prepared to take those panels for you, although there is no guarantee that they’ll be recycled if there are no facilities in your area able to break down and disassemble those panels.
If you’re told that your solar panels are not recyclable, note that this is probably not the fault of those panels themselves but simply due to a lack of recycling centers able to break them down properly. While it might seem disheartening that panels needed to capture eco-friendly solar might eventually wind up in a landfill themselves, solar power is in greater demand every single day. In turn, more communities are being encouraged to offer solar panel recycling processes in their area.
Solar panel manufacturers are also encouraged to design methods of reusing current panels, with updates and needed parts replacement, to keep those panels out of landfills. In turn, some solar panel manufacturers or installers might keep old panels that aren’t recyclable, in the hopes that there will be a market for them or ways to recycle them in the near future.
As early solar panels are nearing the end of their expected lifespan, this is another reason why recycling might become more available in coming years. Manufacturers realize that there are more scrap parts from older panels every year; as more homeowners and business owners turn to solar power, scrap part availability will only increase over time! With more scrap parts available for reuse, manufacturers are more likely to develop methods of recycling old solar panels.
Some solar panels might include materials considered hazardous waste at certain levels, including silver, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Whether or not solar panels have these materials in hazardous quantities varies according to brand and solar panel type:
If you’re not sure if your solar panels contain any of these materials and in quantities that would classify them as hazardous, contact the manufacturer and ask about the panel materials. You can also call local recycling facilities or the agency that manages trash pickup in your area, as they will know what is considered hazardous waste.
As with any product you buy, the lifespan of a solar panel depends on the quality of the manufacturer! When first introduced to the market in the early 2000s, solar panels were not quite as durable as today’s brands, and those older panels might have a 25-30 year lifespan. Today’s panels, however, are often expected to last some 40 to 50 years on average.
To ensure you buy quality solar panels that last for as long as expected, check customer reviews and the manufacturer’s warranty. Note anything that might void that warranty, such as removing those panels for roof repairs yourself rather than calling a solar panel installer.
If you’re still concerned about what happens when solar panels come to the end of their lifespan, note that older panels don’t simply stop capturing and converting sunlight into usable energy! Instead, those panels degrade rather than outright break down, so they don’t work as well as newer panels and don’t produce as much energy.
Property owners looking to invest in solar should also note that panel degradation is not as remarkable as you might assume. Many studies have shown that solar panels degrade about 0.5% per year; after 25 years, those panels will have then degraded only 12%, so that they’re still working 87% to 88% as effectively as new panels! After 50 years, your panels might then degrade about 25%, so they continue to operate at 75% effectiveness.
These numbers are just averages, and your panel’s degradation rate will depend on the quality of the manufacturer, your area’s average weather conditions, and if those panels suffer damage over the years. Be sure to discuss expected degradation with your panel manufacturer or installer before purchasing, so you know what to expect when it comes to your panels and their performance over the years.
While solar panels are very durable and reliable in general, how you maintain them over the years will affect their lifespan and effectiveness. Note three quick tips for keeping your home’s solar panels in tiptop shape, and for ensuring they work as efficiently as possible:
Despite the fact that solar panels are not easily recyclable and do degrade slightly over the years, there are many reasons to consider investing in a solar power system for your home or business. If you’ve been thinking of investing in solar power for your home or business, be sure to discuss these many advantages with a solar power contractor near you:
It’s also likely that more and more recycling centers and manufacturers will show an interest in solar panel recycling in the coming years, as more panels reach the end of their lifespan and need disposal, as said. Since solar panels you buy today probably won’t need disposal for another 20 to 30 years at least, the lack of recycling facilities in your area today shouldn’t keep you from investigating solar power for your home or business!
Alliance Solar is happy to provide this information to our readers and we hope it answered the question, are solar panels recyclable? If you need more information about solar power installation or would like to set up a FREE consultation about solar power for your home or business, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We carry a wide variety of solar power systems sure to fit your needs and budget.
