The business owner repurposes scrap metal and other components from outdated solar panels.
Yuma, Arizona —
As the world shifts away from using fossil fuels that contribute to climate change, a new issue of pollution arises: how to handle disposal of old or damaged solar panels?
Numerous solar panels are being placed throughout the United States on a daily basis, with a focus on the sunny western and southern regions. This is part of a larger effort by states like California to transition towards more environmentally friendly energy production.
However, as the initial solar installations approach their anticipated 30-year lifespan, there is a growing urgency to recycle these materials rather than disposing them in landfills.
According to Adam Saghei, CEO of We Recycle Solar in Arizona, there will soon be a large influx of solar panels returning to the supply chain.
According to him, a major issue in any industry is the lack of preparation for a circular economy. He emphasized the importance of having a plan for the disposal of solar energy assets, as it is a renewable energy source.
Photos of solar panels that have been damaged and are ready for recycling can be seen at the We Recycle Solar facility in Yuma, Arizona on December 6, 2023.
Saghei’s strategy includes the reuse of panels, among other elements.
Approximately 5% of panels may experience a small production flaw or become damaged while being transported or installed.
According to Saghei, these functional panels can be restored and redirected to other markets, often in foreign countries.
However, for panels that are no longer operational due to being old or damaged during installation or by hail, there may still be valuable components to salvage.
Saghei explained that his engineers spent three years perfecting a process known as urban mining.
Mining is a process that extracts valuable materials such as silver, copper, aluminum, glass, and silicone from the ground. These commodities have a significant value in the market.
On December 6, 2023, employees at the We Recycle Solar facility in Yuma, Arizona are dismantling solar panels for the purpose of recycling them.
Although the purposes for metals may seem clear, determining the uses for silicone and glass is more challenging yet fascinating.
According to Saghei, this material has multiple uses such as filling sand traps on golf courses, refining it for sandblast mix, and using it in stone or glass mixes for outdoor fireplaces.
The Yuma plant has the ability to handle 7,500 panels daily, yet only a small portion is discarded.
According to him, the recovery rate can reach up to 99 percent depending on the type and brand of the panels.
Logistics challenges
Meng Tao, an expert in sustainable energy infrastructure at Arizona State University, is focusing on the urgent task of creating an effective lifecycle for solar panels.
With the United States among the countries committed to weaning itself off of fossil fuels, solar panel installation looks set to increase and peak two decades from now.
“After it reaches maturity, the yearly setup and removal costs will be nearly equal,” he informed AFP.
The speaker stated that in the next 20 years, there will be more installations than retirements, and the trend will continue for at least 10 years.
According to him, the issue with recycling is not only the potentially low value of recovered materials from panels, but also the challenges of managing logistics.
Broken solar panels can be seen at the We Recycle Solar facility in Yuma, Arizona on December 6, 2023.
Transporting solar panels from various distant rooftops to a recycling facility can be a costly endeavor.
In contrast to other areas, the United States requires the end user to pay for the removal and recycling of items, which may encourage individuals to simply dispose of their old units at a nearby landfill.
Tao stated that there needs to be policy support in order to bridge the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and the overall cost of the panels over their lifespan.
Growing market
For Saghei, like any other business executive, profitability holds great significance.
According to the speaker, the reason why not many people enter the recycling business is because it incurs a cost. It is not a free process and requires a lot of labor and energy.
However, he does have a plan for moving forward.
He strongly believes that reusing materials from old solar panels in new ones is a successful idea.
He stated that these markets are experiencing growth.
During this process, we have the capability to return these raw materials back into the supply chain once the industry reaches a larger scale,” he stated. “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this development.”
Source: voanews.com
