Australia is bracing for a massive surge in decommissioned renewable energy infrastructure, with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) forecasting roughly one million tonnes of solar panel waste by 2035.

To get ahead of this “solar wave”—equivalent to approximately 50 million individual panels—the federal government has announced the launch of a national solar panel recycling pilot. The initiative aims to create a blueprint for managing end-of-life renewable assets, keeping hazardous materials out of landfills while reclaiming the high-value minerals hidden inside.

The Multi-Million Tonne Challenge

While solar panels are the poster child for the green transition, their retirement presents a logistical hurdle. The department noted that while the transition to clean energy is non-negotiable, the “circularity” of the equipment must improve.

The primary concern lies in the sheer volume of waste and the complexity of certain components, such as composite wind turbine rotor blades, which remain difficult to process.

Mining the “Waste”

Despite the daunting volume, the government highlights a significant silver lining: these panels and turbines are essentially “above-ground mines.” The vast majority of the materials used in renewable infrastructure can be salvaged and reused in the manufacturing of new units. [Source: DCCEEW]