As the solar energy sector continues to grow, the challenge of managing the costs associated with recycling end-of-life solar panels becomes increasingly pressing. Desco Electronic Recyclers is paving the way for a more economically viable and environmentally sustainable approach to solar waste management.
Desco Electronic Recyclers is pioneering the recycling of end-of-life solar panels and sustainable solar waste management.
Through innovative recycling services and solutions, the company is addressing these financial hurdles and tackling the significant expenses involved in the collection, transportation, and processing of solar panels.
Giulio Airaga, Desco Director, says the company provides a robust and thorough recycling process for solar panels, ensuring that valuable materials are recovered and repurposed and minimising the environmental impact.
"The process begins with dismantling the solar panels to extract the aluminium frame, junction box, and wires, which are valuable components that can be reused or recycled. The remaining photovoltaic (PV) material is then shredded to reduce it in size and milled to separate the glass, a crucial step in preparing the materials for further processing," he explains.
The separated glass and aluminium are then sent to downstream customers that use these materials in the production of new, sustainable products, promoting recycling and supporting the creation of a circular economy.
Airaga says recycling solar panels poses significant challenges, particularly in terms of collection and processing costs. "Transporting solar panels to recycling facilities can be expensive, due to their bulk and weight."
For example, transporting 1 000 tonnes of solar panels requires 50 truckloads, each costing about R30 000, thus resulting in a total immediate cost of R1.5 million. This cost can increase further, depending on the distance from the collection site to the recycling facility.
Moreover, the recycling process itself is costly and labour-intensive. Solar panels are large and bulky, and significant manual labour is required to feed them into the recycling machinery. The process involves multiple machines running continuously to handle the large volumes, further adding to the operational costs.
Airaga highlights that the energy-intensive nature of recycling solar panels is compounded by the lack of reliable power supply in South Africa, presenting an ironic challenge given that materials being recycled were used to generate energy from a renewable source.
The cost to recycle each solar panel is roughly R200 to R250, and with an average solar farm containing from around 170 000 up to 611 000 panels, the financial implications are substantial. It is illegal to landfill solar panels, so finding cost-effective and efficient recycling methods is essential.
To further enhance the effectiveness of solar panel recycling, Desco advocates greater involvement from government entities and producer responsibility organisations (PROs). By subsidising costs and supporting recyclers, these bodies can help ensure that solar panel recycling becomes more accessible and economically viable.
"Our dedication to sustainability is reflected in our comprehensive approach to solar panel recycling. We aim to maximise the residual value of materials through efficient processes and at the same time minimise environmental risks by preventing landfill disposal. Our efforts contribute to the creation of downstream products such as aluminium, glass, polyvinyl fluoride, silicon, and refining materials, which can be reused," Airaga says.
Established in 1992 by Costa and Desiree Airaga, Desco Electronic Recyclers is a pioneering force in management of electronic waste (eWaste), based in Kempton Park, Gauteng, with branches in Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal.
For more information visit: https://desco.co.za
