PVTIME – Australia has announced A$24.7 million in funding for a national solar PV panel recycling pilot programme over three years. The scheme aims to establish up to 100 demonstration sites across the country to boost recovery rates, reduce landfill waste, and promote the development of a circular economy.
A global leader in rooftop solar penetration, Australia has solar installations in more than a third of households. By the end of 2025, cumulative rooftop PV capacity is expected to reach 26.8GW, providing power to around 4.2 million homes and small businesses. However, the Productivity Commission notes that currently, only 17% of end-of-life panels are recycled. Scaling up recovery could unlock A$7.3 billion in economic value by cutting waste and reclaiming high-value strategic minerals, including copper, silver, and aluminium.
The Environment and Water Minister, Murray Watt, highlighted that only a small proportion of decommissioned panels enter recycling systems, with most being stockpiled, landfilled, or exported for reuse. He emphasised that the panels hold significant material value and should not be discarded as waste. He added that their reuse would support the transition to clean energy and ease pressure on landfills, thereby safeguarding the natural environment.
The Productivity Commission argues that enhanced coordination, improved regulatory frameworks, and technological innovation could help to advance Australia’s circular economy by establishing robust PV recycling systems. The federal government will use the commission’s findings and collaborate with state and territory governments to develop sustainable solutions. It has also secured cross-jurisdictional backing to develop a national product stewardship framework for PV panels in 2025.
It is projected that Australian annual PV panel waste will nearly double from 59,340 tonnes in 2025 to 91,165 tonnes by 2030, with residential installations being the main source. The Smart Energy Council estimates that one-third of decommissioned panels can be reused and could contribute around 24GW of energy capacity by 2040.
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