Now, with 100,000 tonnes of solar waste expected annually by 2030, the country is scrambling for solutions.
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Australia is facing a solar waste crisis, with millions of aging solar panels heading for landfills in the coming years. As solar adoption skyrocketed over the last two decades, little thought was given to what happens when panels reach the end of their lifespan.
For UNDERTWOK, this issue is something we need to take seriously. As a company selling solar panels, we’re not just providing clean energy, we also have a responsibility to think about the entire lifecycle of our products. The Australian case is a wake-up call for the global solar industry: what happens when today’s solar panels become tomorrow’s e-waste?
Sustainable disposal and recycling methods are key. Currently, less than 17% of solar panels are being recycled, meaning most end up in landfills. But with better recycling technology, materials like silicon, glass, and precious metals can be recovered and reused. At UNDERTWOK, this is an opportunity to explore partnerships like looking at end of life battery returns and recycling programs to ensure we’re contributing to a circular economy rather than a waste problem.
The solar industry thrives on innovation—so let’s apply that same mindset to sustainability. By thinking ahead, we can make sure solar remains a truly green solution, not just for energy but for the planet as a whole.
References
Energy Live News. (2025). Australia faces solar scrapheap challenge. Available at: https://www.energylivenews.com [Accessed 13 Mar. 2025].
Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen
Xu, Y., Li, J., & Tan, Q. (2022). Recycling strategies for end-of-life photovoltaic panels: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 158, 112113. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112113.