Solar panels: 90-95 percent can be recycled

Silicon, aluminum, glass: all reusable materials. By 2030, Italy could be disposing of 50.000–100.000 tons of panels annually.

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The International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA) estimates that waste from photovoltaic panels, which amounted to around 0,2 million tonnes in 2021, could reach around 4 million tonnes in 2030 , and then exceed 200 million tonnes cumulatively by 2050.

If we consider an average panel of about 20–25 kg , 4 million tonnes is roughly equivalent to: 1 60–200 million panels per year around 2030.

In Italy, a recent study estimates that approximately 20.000 tons of photovoltaic panels will reach the end of their lifespan in 2025, with an average weight of 20–25 kg per panel, equivalent to approximately 800.000–1.000.000 panels in 2025 alone.

And the quantity is destined to increase: one estimate indicates that by 2030 Italy could reach 50.000–100.000 tons of decommissioned panels per year.

But these numbers shouldn't scare us, if we start from the different materials that make up a solar panel: 

  • Silicon: constitutes photovoltaic cells, which transform light into electricity.
  • Glass: protects the cells from rain, impacts and atmospheric agents; it is often the heaviest part of the panel.
  • Aluminum: generally forms the external frame.
  • Polymers/plastics: Materials such as EVA and the backsheet protect and insulate the cells.
  • Copper: present in electrical connections and cables.
  • Argento: used in small quantities in the electrical contacts of cells.
  • Other metals: may be present in smaller quantities, for example tin and lead in solders, depending on the technology and production.

The typical lifespan of a photovoltaic panel is 25–30 years or more , and over its lifetime it produces much more energy than was needed to manufacture it. The important point is that the panel doesn't necessarily become unusable waste at the end of its life . A significant portion of the materials can be recovered and used to produce new objects or, in some cases, new panels.

Overall, industrial processes can achieve around 90–95% panel weight recovery under certain conditions and with advanced technologies. The IEA-PVPS, for example, reports processes that achieve around 95%, including EVA energy recovery.

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