Solar Panels: How Environmentally Friendly Are They Really?
In Brief: PV is Fine
More and more people are becoming concerned about the growing waste pile and the ecological footprint of their construction materials. Occasionally, doubts arise about the environmental friendliness of solar panels, but that’s unjustified. Solar panels have a positive climate impact, they have a long lifespan, and they can be almost entirely recycled. Moreover, a lot of research is being conducted to adopt an even more circular approach. So, you can confidently install solar panels without worry.
Favorable Environmental Impact of Solar Panels
Solar panels are adorning the roofs of more and more Flemish homes. Although the policy surrounding solar panels often garners negative attention, there’s nothing wrong with the qualities of the panels themselves. In fact, their environmental impact is quite favorable: they not only generate significantly more energy than their production requires, but they also last for over 25 years, contain no rare earth metals, and are highly recyclable.
Solar panels are rightly very popular. Approximately 80% of all solar cells worldwide have been installed in the last five years. In the past year, the installed capacity in Europe grew by about 11%. That’s enormous. However, a significant challenge lies here as well. Might we face an immense waste pile of solar panels in a few years? To understand this, we need to first look at the components of PV panels.
What Do PV Panels Actually Consist Of?
PV panels (from the English “Photo Voltaic”) consist of 80% glass. Additionally, they contain a small amount of aluminum (10%), plastic, and connections made of copper or silver. In Flanders, a silicon solar panel — the most common type — achieves a recycling rate of 93.5%. “This makes them one of the most recyclable items in the construction world,” confirms Ludovic Vigneron, CEO of Advenso and specialist in solar panels and sustainable energy.
Yet, there’s room for improvement. “While over 90% of materials are recovered, they often aren’t reused in high-value applications. For instance, the glass from a solar panel is rarely or never reused in new solar panels, but it gets a second life in the form of glass wool for insulation. It’s a fine product in itself, but it could be different.”
Reusing materials from solar panels in other applications means new raw materials are needed each time for the production of PV panels. Although most of these raw materials are abundant, it’s still important to be more sparing. “There’s a need for a circular business model for solar panels,” Ludovic says. “It would be fantastic if we could directly use the resources from old solar panels for new ones.”
Efforts are currently underway to achieve this. Both within the academic realm and the industry itself, a lot of research is being done on lifespan extension, reuse, material selection, dismantling, and more. The aim is to enhance the recycling process. Experts from CIRCUSOL — a European program focused on circular solar panels — even estimate that about half of the PV modules in the waste stream can still be repaired or upgraded for reuse.
Efficient Production of Solar Panels
Another common point of contention is that the production of solar panels requires a significant amount of energy. Does it make sense to generate sustainable energy if the production consumes so much energy? “The main component of a solar panel is silicon, or glass. This is extracted from sand, and the extraction and production of silicon indeed consume a considerable amount of energy. Some panels perform much better in this regard than others. For example, our German solar panels have a carbon footprint of 1.3 tons per panel. After about two years, you’ve generated as much energy as was needed for production.” Given that solar panels last over 25 years, the energy demand for production is almost negligible when compared to the total output.
How Are Solar Panels Recycled?
So, solar panels generate significantly more energy than they consume, and they are nearly fully recyclable. That’s already a positive aspect. But how are they actually recycled? When you have your solar panels recycled, they go through the following steps:
- In the primary dismantling phase, large parts like the glass are separated from other components like the frame and wiring.
- Subsequently, the glass is separated from silicon cells and other metals. The glass can then be recycled normally, and the silicon is reused for producing new solar cells. These cells can be reused up to four times. “Solar panels last for about 30 years,” states the CEO of Advenso, “so it’s highly likely that silicon can be useful for over a century.” The metals are also maximally reused.
Keeping Your Solar Panels in Top Condition
While it’s good to know that solar panels have a minimal environmental impact and are easily recyclable, it’s even better to maintain them in good condition for as long as possible. Here are some simple tips that can significantly extend the lifespan of your PV installation:
- Perform maintenance every year during summer. Keep them dust-free. Avoid using a high-pressure cleaner.
- Monitor the system and track your performance. This can be done through your inverter, as well as your digital meter. Many useful apps are also available.
- Regularly check if the wiring is properly connected, especially if your efficiency drops.
Differences in Types of Solar Panels?
However, not all solar panels are identical, and therefore, the recycling process may differ from type to type. Panels containing cadmium, for instance, are sent directly to the manufacturer, who recycles them using a special method. Yet, most solar panels no longer contain harmful substances. This is especially true for recent panels. Perhaps even more importantly, they also don’t contain rare materials. Such materials are often environmentally detrimental during extraction and refinement and contribute to dire conditions in and around mining sites.
Moving Towards Sustainable, Circular Building Materials
In conclusion, solar panels are among the most sustainable forms of energy generation, even when considering their entire lifecycle. We observe that people are increasingly mindful of their ecological footprint. The most recyclable solar panels are consequently the ones most sold by reputable companies. Additionally, there’s ongoing research into making the last percentages of panels recyclable as well. This ultimately leads us to solar panels that are 100% recyclable. Due to the long lifespan of PV panels and their high recycling rate, we are well on our way to transitioning to circular building materials.
Can You Recycle Your Solar Panels for Free?
Collecting used solar panels is free, but in Flanders, Belgium, if you’re installing new solar panels, you have to pay a recycling fee. Since July 1, 2017, the fee is €2 per panel (excluding VAT). This money goes into a fund used for the cost-free collection and recycling of discarded solar panels. A requirement is that the panels can be collected as a whole and are not mixed with other waste. If you want to recycle fewer than 80 solar panels, you can bring them to one of the collection points. For more than 80 panels, PV Cycle will pick them up. Quite convenient!
