June 2, 2022

The Past, Present, and Future of Recycling Solar

If you don’t know already, solar energy panels have the potential to be 100% recyclable. Solar panels are not as complex of a creation as you may believe them to be. Typically, solar panels are made up of resources with recycling practices already carved out for them like glass, aluminum, plastic, metal, and silicone.

According to a study conducted in 2016 by the International Renewable Energy Agency, it has been estimated that over 78 million tons of recycled raw materials and other components will be successfully collected through recycling the first initially installed solar panels. Concluding by this estimate, the financial value of reusable recovered materials could raise up to $15 billion internationally. This anticipated value shall be continuously reworked back into creating a sustainable future and advancing us all towards a green nation by 2050. 

As technology advances worldwide, more engineers are developing resilient methods of recycling panels and reusing the materials for the creation of future development. It is imperative that we continue informing others of how sustainable solar panels can really be. As the solar market grows, we will see substantial growth in the economy as more green jobs will be produced. Not only are solar energy panels recyclable but the lifespan of 25 to 30+ years solidifies the statement of how sustainable solar really is. On top of that, solar is a relatively new resource as a large amount of the world was previously incredibly dependent on fossil fuels. As for our recycling habits, we continue to be ahead of the curve as the volume is low, which gives us enough time to create even more sustainable recycling habits for the future ahead. It is anticipated that the solar installations occurring  now are expected to remain productive until the middle of this century.

See how you and your community can benefit from solar!