ET. Recently passed legislation authorizes DTSC to adopt regulations to designate used/spent solar panels that are hazardous wastes as universal waste. Thursday, August 22, 2019, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Solar–powered school buses. While solar panel recycling is not yet widespread in the United States, organizations are busy laying the important groundwork to build the necessary collection, management and recycling systems. EPA supports the growing green power market by purchasing and generating renewable energy in a variety of forms. The Recycling Process of PV Modules at a Glance: Solar panels can be and are recyclable. Termination of Lease. See EPA’s, Shining the Light on Solar Panel Recycling - A Status Update, Introductory Slides for the August 22, 2019, Webinar (PDF), PV Modules End of Life Management Setting the Stage (PDF), A Survey of U.S. Policies and Initiatives (PDF), State Considerations for Solar Energy End-of-Life Management (PDF), Environmentally Responsible Solutions: Solar Panel Recycling (PDF). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Landlord" is the land owner. Her professional career includes a wide range of experience developing and evaluating programs on energy and conservation. With all of the solar panel company advertising, the information and talks at the EPA on solar power, and as a concerned citizen who tries to conserve energy and be a smart shopper, it makes perfect sense to explore solar power. In a nod to environmental concerns, many owners of spent solar panels are already having them recycled rather than landfilled—and thereby harvesting residual value from old equipment that would otherwise be thrown away. Video: Shining the Light on Solar Panel Recycling - A Status Update Exit, Garvin Heath is a senior scientist in the Strategic Energy Analysis Center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). EPA’s regulations under RCRA include provisions for handling universal wastes, but, currently EPA’s regulations do not treat decommissioned solar panels as universal waste. Regardless, solar panel waste disposal is a problem that needs to be addressed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a brief paper outlining difficulties the U.S. will face when recycling and safely disposing of materials used for green energy technologies.. Decommissioned solar panels are subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act — a federal law governing the management of hazardous waste. Solar Panels Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) modules, present a looming expense to homeowners responsible for their removal and disposal at the end of their useful lives, as well as a potential environmental hazard. The solar energy market has grown significantly in the past few years. This webinar covers the basics of the solar panel technology design and explores the impact of these solar panels on the waste management and recycling systems of today. ISTC launched this initiative to lead efforts to prepare the state for a glut of end-of-life solar panels and ensure they are recycled and/or repurposed or disposed of properly. At NREL, he specializes in analyzing the environmental impacts of energy systems, using the tools of life cycle assessment, air quality engineering and sustainability analysis. How cool is this? 381 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<566A1A18B7397042B97D0FBD74908490>]/Index[365 23]/Info 364 0 R/Length 83/Prev 420490/Root 366 0 R/Size 388/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream h�bbd``b`3�#��|Dԃ��� 1H������� n'�`�b ��[���&F�? Evelyn Butler is the Senior Director of Codes and Standards at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Solar Panel Waste: The Dark Side of Clean Energy Tons of solar panels installed in the early 2000s are reaching the end of their lifecycles, posing a serious problem for the industry to contend with. h�b```�V%A��1�AVAaA��������|�������=�bl��=�O�63��N �b��!�Ǔ�r��?�I�Ź��u��jA>��A�^�,GC�d� 2�;X#�:�\ƌ|�m�e`=�����F! Solar panels or parts that are not recycled and are slated for disposal may still be considered hazardous waste and subject to hazardous waste standards. At least, that is what my husband and I thought in the summer of 2010. Evelyn leads SEIA's strategy, proposal development, member engagement and policy advocacy efforts for SEIA’s technical areas. The EPA describes universal waste as subject to a “streamlined” set of standards compared to other types of hazardous waste. Current solar panel disposal practices are far from being environmentally friendly. You can get expert advice here to help you with that. Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (PDF). Posted in Our Planet, Our Home, Posted on February 22, 2011 | Tagged alternative fuel campaigns, green technology, recycling, solar panel installation He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Viterbo University. Solar panels can be recycled, but the costs and the possible environmental impacts have stood to bar efficient and widespread recycling. EPA (2016a). The universal waste designation only applies to solar panel waste handled in California. When these panels enter landfills, valuable resources go to waste. Google maps for solar panels. A 2018 report from the Institute of Energy Research suggests imposing a recycling fee on solar panel purchases. 365 0 obj <> endobj With the increasing number of solar panels being sold and installed in the United States each year, solar panels are ending up in the waste stream as well. ��1�a�1�:��̗����Yz���-.�clvK�43�� ܻ�l� Solar panels are mostly glass and metal, both of which are easily recyclable materials. %PDF-1.6 %���� Solar panels are composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight to electricity. A federal disposal and decommissioning fund would then dispense funds to … A new initiative by Recycle PV Solar … 387 0 obj <>stream Prior to joining SEIA, she managed UL’s global solar business for over 15 years. (7 pp, 318 KB, About PDF) EPA (2016b). %%EOF Prior to his experience in the recycling industry at Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, Hines worked with at-risk youth for six years at an alternative education school. Hines began his career with Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations in Information Technology asset disposition, focusing on memory and processors. As of Jan. 1, a new California law became effective allowing for the management of decommissioned solar panels through recycling which will make recycling far more economical than before. This document provides best practices unique to siting solar PV on landfills for solar developers and landfill owners as well as federal, state and local stakeholders. But, with the increase in solar panel use has come a new realization, the world is heading towards a new crisis when it comes to the safe disposal of solar cells. The solar industry cannot claim to be a clean energy source if it leaves a trail of hazardous waste. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Recycling vs. disposal of PV panels As current PV installations reach the final decommissioning stage, efficient recycling and material recovery are preferable to disposing of panels in landfills. This is needed to prevent toxic compounds from leaching into the environment, as well as to avoid disposal of valuable and finite resources into landfills. Until the new regulations are adopted, solar panels that exhibit characteristics of hazardous waste must be managed … You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, solar energy has had an annual growth rate of 50% in the past decade and it is projected to continue growing.While solar panels are often considered to be sources of clean energy for 30+ years, their disposal requires some specialized processes. In 2010, China unveiled the first solar … endstream endobj startxref It also includes insights into efforts by state governments to address solar panels in the waste stream and the trends they are seeing. Last updated on February 21, 2016. April 2016. He also holds a Master of Science  in Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley. Solar energy demand in California is expected to remain high in the coming years, due in large part to the state’s ever-growing framework of laws and policies aimed at promoting the use of clean energy (including, notably, the adoption of new building standards that require solar-powered systems to be installed on nearly all new … He also has several years of experience as a recycling account manager and inside sales representative. Jennifer’s work has been fundamental in the development and implementation of solar training workforce strategies, which are now helping to build a more robust solar energy market in the Midwest. �щ�� �- Nowadays, there are a few organizations working to make solar panel recycling both complete and mainstream: Veolia On average, silicon-based PV modules are 76% … United States Environmental Protection Agency, Garvin Heath's webinar presentation slides, Garvin Heath's additional webinar presentation slides, Evelyn Butler's webinar presentation slides, Jennifer Martin's webinar presentation slides, You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. Casey Hines  is a recycling sales executive at Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations. Call us at (877) 200-2029. He holds a doctorate in Energy and Resources from the Energy and Resources Group of the University of California (UC), Berkeley. We Recycle Solar's solar panel recycling program helps you to achieve maximum value recovery with our certified, secure solutions for recycling solar panels. Solar Panel Recycling Initiative. A town in Wisconsin is using solar panels to charge hybrid electric school buses. An official website of the United States government. Producing electricity with solar panels has gained popularity in recent years because the panels have become lighter and more efficient. Solar panels have traditionally been recycled at general purpose glass recycling facilities, where the metal frames and glass parts are salvaged but the remaining parts are disposed of or burned. Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. In this case, California is allowed to include solar panels in its universal waste regulations because EPA has approved the changes to California’s universal waste program earlier this year. California’s novel universal waste (UW) rules for disposing spent photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which take effect Jan. 1, are raising uncertainty about how fast they may spur new in-state recycling facilities for the hazardous material, while solar industry and other groups are eyeing “cleanup legislation” to relax some of the new requirements. EPA Director Circular Economy Kathy Giunta said the investment in recycling through this Circular Solar grants program would help NSW meet its commitment of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. endstream endobj 366 0 obj <. She is the lead staff liaison for several member groups on the following topics: Codes & Standards, including corrosion protection; Mounting Systems Manufacturers; the PV Recycling and End-of-Life Management; Operations and Maintenance; Quality Assurance, including best practices development; and Installer Safety & Workforce Development. He currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, where he also holds an adjunct research position at the University of Colorado at Boulder. "Tenant" is the solar facility owner. Promoting reuse and recovery is certainly one of the goals of RCRA; however, this goal does not take precedence over ensuring the proper management of hazardous waste. California has been a leader in the installation of solar energy with nearly 40 percent of the country’s total solar capacity and 50 percent of the solar energy systems installed in the U.S. He has more than two years of experience in end-of life electronics and solar sales for both residential and commercial customers, as well as nationwide business development. 0 Solar panels are in a period of rapid growth. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more. In addition to her work, Jennifer also serves on the board of directors for the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and advises for multiple working groups in Illinois, helping to ensure a strong and equitable renewable energy transition in the Midwest. His previous professional experience includes service as an environmental engineer at the U.S. EPA, in addition to various assignments with researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Environmental Defense Fund. Washington State is the only U.S. state that requires the manufacturer to develop a recycle plan, but the state requirement does not address the cost of recycling. The toxic metals used in PV modules can leach into groundwater if the modules are disposed improperly. ��( � �zA Jennifer Martin of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center of University of Illinois, identifies and tracks emerging issues and research needs related to energy, waste, public health and the environment. The new classification affects how long solar panel waste can be held on site before it is required to be transferred to another facility and reduces requirements for testing for certain hazardous materials. (480) 482-7050 About Us Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Reuse, recycling, and reclamation should be viewed as ways of managing hazardous wastes which, if properly conducted, can avoid environmental hazards, protect scarce natural resources, and reduce the nations reliance on raw materials and energy. Environmentally Responsible Solutions: Solar Panel Recycling Author: Casey Hines Dynamic Lifecycle Innovation - if you need access to this resource due to a disability, please contact the author. Subject: EPA Sustainable Materials Management Webinar presentation slides Created Date: 20190822132600Z But, absent a cogent PV recycling policy, the U.S. risks sending millions of solar modules and tons of toxics to landfill in the coming years. 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