Dead solar panels are about to become a lot more valuable

Photo by Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images

According to an analysis published this week, recyclers will hopefully be able to find billions of dollars worth of materials from discarded solar panels. The panels themselves should be more sustainable because of that.

The majority of dead solar panels in the US are shredded or thrown away. It doesn't make sense in recycling's favor. It has not been enough to make up for the cost of transporting and recycling salvaged panels. According to a recent analysis, that is on track to change.

The value of recycled materials from solar panels is only $170 million this year, but is expected to balloon to over $2 billion by the year 2030. There is a growing demand for solar coupled with an anticipated shortage of materials to make panels. It's easier to get more valuable materials from old panels thanks to technological advances.

Solar energy makes up a small portion of the global electricity mix. The world's energy systems are starting to change to bring in more renewable energy. The Paris climate accord commits countries to work together to stop releasing greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels over the next few decades. Up to 40 percent of the world's power supply could be attributed to solar. Solar panels have become a cheaper source of electricity than coal or gas because of their affordability.

There are some clouds in the sun's forecast. More materials are needed to build more solar panels. The materials are being mined and processed in a few countries. The solar supply chain is vulnerable to disruptions. Human rights abuses have been documented by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre. Polysilicon is made through an energy intensive process that has been tied to forced labor. Sanctions have been imposed on some solar products made in China.

It will be possible to change those supply chains with the help of recycling. It might make mining less harmful to the environment and the health of workers and nearby communities.

More of the materials used to make solar panels are likely to come from re-hashed panels. Recovered metals can fetch the most cash on the recycling market. Today's recycling methods don't separate silver and solar- grade Silicon from each other. It is shredded along with the rest of the panel to make crushed glass. Thanks to new research, recycling could soon be more advanced.

With a lifespan of around 25 years, solar began to take off in the 2000s. Trash could become treasure if it is treated well.