{"id":94287,"date":"2025-09-04T05:55:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T20:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=94287"},"modified":"2025-09-04T05:55:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T20:25:34","slug":"solar-panel-stewardship-mb3262","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-panel-stewardship-mb3262\/","title":{"rendered":"Time\u2019s Up: Push For Solar Panel Stewardship Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Solar<\/p>\n

Only a small percentage of Australia’s decommissioned solar panels are being recycled. This isn’t through a lack of know-how, but a failure to act by successive governments according to a joint statement signed by dozens of groups. <\/p>\n

Call For Government Action On Solar PV Waste<\/h2>\n

Led by the Smart Energy Council, a coalition of dozens of industry, business, union, community and environmental groups and local governments is calling on the Federal Government to establish a mandatory product stewardship scheme for solar panels during this parliamentary term. The Federal Government is also being urged to implement a funded pilot program in the interim that would inform scheme design and attract investment to ensure its success.<\/p>\n

The joint statement claims<\/a> it’s a $6.5 billion opportunity that could boost critical mineral resource security, spark innovation, new local industries, manufacturing and jobs.<\/p>\n

Progress (Or Lack Thereof) To Date<\/h2>\n

Australia’s solar revolution has been nothing short of stunning. Millions of solar panels adorn rooftops throughout the country, not to mention the millions more installed at solar farms.<\/p>\n

Good quality solar panels<\/a> should last for decades, and they’ve been proven to in real-world conditions<\/a>. Unfortunately not all solar panels are of good quality, and the service lives of many panels are being ended prematurely through system upgrades.<\/p>\n

In 2021, then-Federal Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, put the solar industry on notice<\/a> that an industry-led nationwide stewardship scheme design must be finalised by June 2022. At the time, the Clean Energy Council (CEC)1<\/a><\/sup> pushed back, stating it had worked to develop a comprehensive, nationwide plan over the previous twelve months, but the Federal Government had “walked away” from the partnership.<\/p>\n

In the years since, there have been various proposals and opinions expressed by government departments. For example, this year the Productivity Commission signalled its support for establishing a co-regulatory product stewardship scheme for solar PV.<\/p>\n

But still, no scheme.<\/p>\n

“Time is up, and Australia\u2019s renewable energy sector stands ready to act,” says the statement. “This is a resource solution, rather than a waste problem.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What Materials Can Be Reclaimed From Solar Panels?<\/h2>\n

Just about everything:<\/p>\n