The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act signed into law in August is predicted to lead to a rapid growth of renewable energy sources – and an increase in solar waste which has the potential to damage the environment if not correctly disposed of.

The law allows independent power producers to supply the power grid with electricity, leading to growth in renewable energy sources. The International Renewable Energy Agency, in their End-of-life management: Solar photovoltaic panels report, predicted that recycling solar PV panels at the end of their roughly 30-year lifetime could unlock an estimated 78 million tonnes of raw materials and other valuable components globally by 2050.

“This new Act, together with the amendment to the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (No. 59 of 2008) that banned all waste electronic and electrical equipment from landfill as of 2021, will result in an increased demand for solutions for solar PV waste,” said EnviroServ Regional Manager Ryan van Heerden. “We can expect to see more solar farms being established now, and if incorrectly disposed of, solar panels and lithium batteries used to store electricity can leach poisonous substances into our water system and the environment, causing permanent damage.”

The waste management company has seen an increase in enquiries for solar PV disposal in the past year as well as lithium batteries used for electricity storage in solar plants. Many of the queries are from the Northern Cape which is known for its sunshine.

Solar panels contain aluminium, cadmium, copper and glass among other recyclable materials.

“As a responsible waste management company, compliance is key for us and we assist our customers around the country in ensuring their solar waste is correctly disassembled and recyclable materials reclaimed before the non-recyclable components are taken to a compliant waste management facility.” A recycling certificate is issued after the process is completed.

Van Heerden said there was a need for more awareness around the importance of proper, legal disposal of solar waste. “Solar plants must have a budget in place for their decommissioning, and the Extended Producer Responsibility legally holds producers responsible for the entire life cycle of their products, from design to end of life.” This legislation includes the cost of recycling and legal disposal of the items if they are damaged or no longer functional.

As the renewable energy sector expands, there is a need for stakeholders to prioritise effective solar waste management strategies to safeguard the environment. “This will ensure that clean energy advancements are beneficial to society rather than a potential health hazard awaiting us in decades to come.”

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