Australia’s solar boom has powered a national transformation toward clean energy – but behind the fields of photovoltaic panels lies a growing challenge.
By 2050, more than one million tonnes of end-of-life solar panels could enter Australia’s waste stream. Now, policymakers, manufacturers and researchers are looking to turn that looming problem into an opportunity for circular innovation.
The Federal Government set ambitious goals for sustainability in solar, aiming for 82 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the success of solar uptake has created a parallel challenge: what happens when today’s panels finish its lifecycle? And how do we keep them out of landfills?
This year, the cumulative volume of end-of-life solar panels in Australia is projected to reach 280,000 tonnes, according to the Australian Energy Council.
“Those panels are full of precious and critical minerals, including silver, copper and silicon,” says Professor Akbar Rhamdhani from Swinburne University of Technology.
The value locked within these panels, particularly high-purity silicon, could be the foundation of a new domestic recycling industry capable of feeding back into the manufacturing supply chain.
“Silicon is a critical mineral, and we need very high-grade versions of it to produce more solar panels, along with many other technologies,” Rhamdhani said.
Turning waste into feedstock
At Swinburne University of Technology, researchers are developing breakthrough methods to recover and reuse those materials with minimal environmental impact.
For Rhamdhani, the solution is clear: recycle them to make new panels.
“In a traditional process, we use carbon and extremely high temperatures to reduce raw silica to metallurgical-grade silicon. It is very energy-intensive and takes a lot of time. Recycling can bypass this,” he said
Professor Rhamdhani’s team is working on “a process that is quite clean, with a no or very low carbon footprint.” Their research program – the first of its kind in the world – brings together international experts to develop zero-carbon processes for recovering high-purity silicon and other valuable materials from end-of-life solar panels.
“This research strengthens the foundation for a sustainable and circular solar industry,” adds Dr Bintang Nuraeni, Researcher on the project bat Swinburne.
Policy momentum and domestic manufacturing
For recovering high-purity silicon and other valuable materials from end-of-life solar panels, strengthening the foundation for a sustainable and circular solar industry is key, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
Although Federal initiatives are beginning to recognise that recycling is the next frontier for renewables, there is still some work to do.
In March 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the Solar Sunshot Program, a $1 billion initiative to supercharge Australia’s ambition to become a renewable energy superpower at home and abroad.
While Sunshot focuses on expanding domestic panel manufacturing rather than waste management, the program is anticipated to eventually address future waste generated by the growth in solar panel use.
The program’s focus on encouraging local capability aims to give industry greater confidence for further investment in the recycling infrastructure that will eventually be essential.
Global collaboration shaping regional leadership
The Swinburne-led consortium extends beyond Australia’s borders. Partners include IIT Hyderabad and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, supported by local industry such as Greenko. Together they are developing advanced methods, including electro-slag refining, to improve the quality of recovered materials and scale regional recycling capability.
“Recycling end-of-life panels can reduce import dependency, cut production costs and lower environmental impact,” said Ashok Kamaraj, Assistant Professor at IIT Hyderabad.
“Establishing silicon recovery infrastructure will support a circular economy, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and align with India’s clean-energy goals.”
Widi Astut, Professor at IIT Hyderabad based in Indonesia sees broader potential.
“Regionally, this initiative positions Indonesia as a hub for PV recycling technology in Southeast Asia, strengthening Indo-Pacific collaboration in renewable material recovery.”
Casting a wider net for creative solutions
As Gadjah Mada University’s Professor Himawan Tri Bayu Murti Petrus explained, collaboration grants access to frontier knowledge and advanced instrumentation that no single country can achieve alone.
Or as Sadoway Staff Scientist Dr Matthew Humbert puts it: “There is no formula or recipe for generating creative solutions, so we must cast our net as wide as possible. This means bringing together researchers from diverse backgrounds into a collaboration where all are valued.”
Toward a circular solar future
Globally, the solar PV waste stream could reach 78 million tonnes by 2050. The technologies being developed through partnerships like Swinburne’s show that a circular economy for solar is not just possible – it is within reach.
“It is very exciting to be working on such a big project. We have the potential of making significant changes in the industry, and we’re up to the challenge,” Rhamdhani said.