Is It a Time to Plan Solar Panel Recycling in the U.S?

[Stormysaga + 62]

In 2017, the U.S. installed about 35.3 million new solar panels. In about 30 years, a wave of 35.3 million panels may reach the end of their lifespans, not counting the hundreds of millions of panels that flooded the U.S. market in the last decade that may need to be disposed of sooner. End-of-life panels might not need recycling for another 15 years, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the growing issue today. 

[Adam Varga + 123]

Definitely a time for some kind of a plan. The U.S. already has a tonnes of damaged panels and we don't even know what they do with them. And when we add all those panels that are at the end of life, maybe not yet but in about 15 years, they will have a huge problem. We shouldn't ignore this growing issue. 

[Addy + 14]

Japan Energy Ministry, Nov 2016: 

"By 2020, Japan's Environment Ministry forecasts the country's solar-panel waste will exceed 10,000 tons. After that, the pile really starts growing: reaching 100,000 tons in 2031 and topping 300,000 tons in 2033, the 20th anniversary of the feed-in tariff. Between 2034 and 2040 the amount of waste produced is expected to hover around 700,000-800,000 tons annually. The projected peak of 810,000 tons is equivalent to 40.5 million panels. To dispose of that amount in a year would mean getting rid of 110,000 panels per day."

https://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Japan-tries-to-chip-away-at-mountain-of-disused-solar-panels?page=2

[Missy + 43]

Sounds eerily similar to oil's abandoned well issue. Just trading old, unresolved problems for new unresolved ones. 

[BlackTortoise + 103]

Great news. First we are buried with trash, then with oil and soon will be buried with solar panels. What's next? 

[BeamMeUp + 11]

so all eyes on solar panel recyclers?

First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR)

any others?

 

[BeamMeUp + 11]

4 minutes ago, BlackTortoise said:

Great news. First we are buried with trash, then with oil and soon will be buried with solar panels. What's next? 

aging wind turbines, which also need to be recycled. 

[CMOP + 227]

:/. No matter which way you go - you'll be left with it's byproduct aka trash - at the end of it's life . Is there any hope for humanity and our increasingly growing waste problem?