As the number of solar panels installed on homes and businesses increases, so too does the potential for solar waste. Paul Skelton looks at one scheme that is launching to tackle the problem.

According figures from the Clean Energy Council, by the end of 2013 almost 1.25 million small-scale solar power systems were installed across the country.

With an estimated 200,000 systems fitted each year by almost-5,000 solar installers, by the end of 2015 that number will be closer to 1.65 million small-scale solar power systems active in Australia.

That’s a helluva lot of solar panels.

Of course, as the number of installed panels increases so too does the amount of waste product caused by old or faulty systems.

Much like CFL lighting and TV and computer e-waste before it, solar waste is a very real problem. But it turns out that the bulk of solar panels can be recycled – in fact, the aluminium frame, cables, junction box, glass, cells and circuit material are all reusable.

Reclaim PV Recycling is one of the first companies in Australia to offer a dedicated solar salvaging service.

“Reclaim was founded after our company, S.M.A.R.T., was commissioned to replace 600 solar modules,” Reclaim director Dave Galloway says.

“At that point, we were resolved to developing a system for recycling. At the time we knew very little of recycling and after a lot of research we discovered that there was no solution based in Australia. So we began the process of establishing Reclaim PV Recycling.”

Reclaim has developed a process of reclaiming efficient cells from damaged solar modules. As the company’s website asks: “If you have a dozen eggs in a carton and two of the eggs are broken, do you discard the entire carton of eggs, or do you remove the good eggs from the carton and use them?”

Using Reclaim’s PV cell recycling system, efficient components from end-of-life solar panels will be extracted in order to develop new green products or be reintroduced into the PV industry as complete solar panels. Recycling key components will also result in a reduction in energy levels required to effectively recycle solar cells.

“Our focus at this stage is to recycle crystalline silicon PV cells with a view to develop a process for thin film,” Dave says.

“In regards to our system for processing decommissioned modules, we adopt two methods.

“One method is cell extraction. This method is currently in the R&D stage with Flinders University’s NanoConnect team. We cannot divulge much information about this method at this point.

“The other method is resource recovery and involves dismantling, refining and separation of each component from PV modules.”

In September, Yingli Green Energy Australia – potentially the largest supplier of solar panels in Australia – announced a partnership with Reclaim to reduce the amount of solar waste it produces and drive the development of new solar panels and additional green products.

“Climate change is the most important environmental issue of today. As such, it is our philosophy that it’s not enough to merely power the world with clean solar energy. We’re dedicated to employing the most sustainable methods of manufacturing to our own green energy products and this is reflected in our setting of regular greenhouse gas emission and waste reduction targets,” Yingli Green Energy Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific managing director Daman Cole says.

“We believe all PV manufacturers must take responsibility for their end-of-life waste. We see a growing recognition for this in the local market and we’re delighted to be a part of this program and its initiatives.”

So, how widespread of a problem is solar waste?

“Locally, the problem of solar waste is already occurring. Australia experienced a PV boom, which in turn put pressure on Chinese manufacturers to keep up, which as you can imagine led to loss of quality control in volume production,” Dave says.

“PV installation companies also began churning out as many installs as they could, so there became a lot more transport and handling faults.

“We have firsthand experience of mass failures in the field and these have largely gone undetected to date. As the number of PV installations reduces in Australia, installers are turning to servicing to supplement their work. The underlying concern is that there are an increasing number of module failures being detected.

“These modules are being removed from rooftops and stockpiled in warehouses with some ending up in landfill. Until now there has been no infrastructure in place to take the burden of waste that the PV industry is creating at present and into future.

“Although in the coming years the amount of end-of-life modules will increase dramatically, the current amount of PV waste is substantial enough to warrant an operation such as ours.”

To date, Dave says Reclaim has one operational collection system in place that recovers end-of-life modules from around Australia, with a growing number of Tier 1 manufacturers leading the way.

“Our operation is strictly with PV manufacturers at this point,” he says.

“The response thus far has been amazing with most manufacturers getting in contact with us to talk about a solution.

“Our model is scaling to facilitate opening more collection centres in the months to come.”

Over time, Reclaim plans to include manufacturers, utility companies, project developers, distribution centres, installers and end users in the scheme.

“We currently have agreements in place with various manufacturers, but we are developing a system to include participation from all parties,” Dave says.

“This is under development at this stage and once we can confirm the next stage of this, we will make this information available. We are working closely with manufacturers to provide a service for their specific needs at this stage.”

Dave says the company has also been busy working with government agencies to build support for the initiative.

“Reclaim is lobbying for change in waste legislation and a gain in support from each state government. We have been meeting with representatives of each state’s EPA with more meetings planned,” he says.

“At this point the response from all parties has been very receptive and there has been a willingness to contribute help towards this initiative.

“We have also met with and have had positive involvement from the Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt’s office and we plan follow up meetings at the Federal level too.”

Electrical Connection will keep readers up-to-speed as the scheme becomes open to solar installers around the country.