RECYCLING FOR SOLAR

U.S. Solar Sector Mulls End-Of-Life Recycling Programs

Mark Del Franco, 15 May 2014 (Solar Industry)

“…[T]he toxicity of materials used in the manufacture of photovoltaic components is well established in the solar sector…[and], as solar installations multiply, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is beginning to plan effective disposition strategies…The life span of a solar photovoltaic panel is approximately 20 to 30 years, and the lifetime of an inverter is approximately 10 years…[but] solar panels installed in the early 1980s are still performing at levels nearly equal to their installation performance levels. Annual PV waste will not exceed 10,000 tons until after this year, SEIA estimates, and will not exceed 100,000 tons until after 2017…[T]he association is looking to identify key lessons learned from the consumer electronics and other industries to help shape its role in the development of state or federal PV recycling initiatives…[and] looking to Europe to better understand existing PV recycling initiatives [such as PV Cycle]and how those programs could work in the U.S…” click here for more

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