The NSW government is investing $10 million to help improve environmental performance by diverting end-of-life solar panel systems from landfill, with the first round of grants now open.

NSW residents and businesses are increasingly turning to solar power systems to reduce energy costs and drive improved environmental performance.

Waste volumes are relatively low at the comment, but an emerging waste stream is expected to rapidly increase over the next decade as installed systems reach their end-of-life. In NSW, it’s forecast to generate up to 10,000t of waste per year by 2025.

EPA director circular economy Kathy Giunta says the investment in recycling through the new grant. It would help NSW reach its commitment of net zero emissions by 2050.

“While current amounts of waste are low, now is the time to invest in developing systems for collecting and recycling these valuable resources like scarce and rare metals, including lithium batteries,” she says.

“We want to recycle and re-use the materials in solar panels and battery systems as NSW transitions towards cleaner energy and this program is an important step in building a productive circular economy in NSW.

“It will see NSW well placed to manage waste solar systems over the coming years and will stimulate much needed job creation in the solar power and recycling sectors.”

The NSW government is now inviting expressions of interest for grants to run trial projects that increase the collection, reuse and recycling of solar panel and battery storage systems. Applications for projects that trial whole of supply chain approaches to collecting and reusing and/or recycling can be made until 17 September 2020.