On 21 April, the Australian Research Council (ARC) Hub for Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Panel Recycling and Sustainability was officially opened at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Backed by a $5 million grant from the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research program, the Hub for Photovoltaic Solar Panel Recycling and Sustainability is the first initiative of its kind in Australia.
The launch of the Hub comes as Australia’s early solar installations begin to age, with PV waste projected to reach 100,000 tonnes annually by 2030.
Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise at UNSW, shared that the Hub will bring together engineers, scientists, policymakers and industry towards the shared goal of turning solar waste into a reusable resource.
“PV waste in Australia is predicted to reach 100,000 tonnes annually by 2030. As we accelerate towards a net zero future, we must ensure the technologies enabling that transition are sustainable,” Professor Fox said.
Professor Yansong Shen, Director at ARC Hub, shared that the scale of upcoming waste is significant, with around 3.5 million systems expected to reach end-of-life over the next decade.
“End-of-life solar panels contain valuable materials like glass, silicon, silver and copper. Our goal is to move these panels away from landfill and towards recycling,” Professor Shen said.
The ARC Hub will focus on improving material recovery; including, the efficient separation and sorting of panel components. The Hub will also explore how panels can be redesigned to improve recyclability, with research extending to policy and market frameworks, to strengthen the full solar value chain from production to disposal.
“We want to build a robust recycling industry in Australia. This includes new jobs, new supply chains and stronger energy security,” Professor Shen said.
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite officially opened the Hub on 21 April.
“If we get this right, there will be less landfill, new domestic supply chains and a more resilient energy sector,” he said.
