How ageing solar panels can power a second life
The study led by UniSA PhD candidate Ishika Chhillar reviews technical, economic and regulatory barriers to reuse and maps a mitigation pathway to build a credible secondary market for used panels. Recycling alone will not keep most end-of-life units out of landfill without policies and market signals that make reuse practical.
"The large-scale reuse of PV panels faces technical, economic and regulatory barriers," Chhillar says.
"There are many key challenges including the low cost of new panels undercutting the resale PV panel market, a lack of incentives for reuse of the panels, different policies for reuse across states, lack of liability for second hand installations and a limited infrastructure for testing and refurbishing of used panels."
"Industry, government, academic and consumers all recognise that these barriers can and must be overcome, and that with the right frameworks in place, Australia can extend the life of its solar panels with true environmental and social benefits in the process."
With new panels getting cheaper, second-hand units struggle to compete, and there are currently no rebates for installing reused panels. Fragmented state rules, unclear liability and limited testing/refurbishment capacity further suppress adoption, the authors note.
"Currently, the lack of any standard certification for used panels means buyers and installers have little to rely on besides a seller's word, but an official certification process would change that," she says.
"A credible certification program should include standardized testing protocols for used panels. By bridging the trust gap, certification can transform reused panels from a risky option into a transparent and standardised product category.
"One option is certification being accompanied by a clear, consumer-friendly grading system such as a gold, silver or bronze classification or a star-rating label to indicate the remaining efficiency and expected lifespan of a panel. This would allow buyers to make informed decisions."
Associate Professor Sukhbir Sandhu adds that digital traceability could streamline decisions about reuse by recording each panel's history and performance.
"If each solar panel's history and performance data could be recorded in a database accessible to buyers and regulators, it would dramatically reduce uncertainty," she says.
"Industry experts we spoke to for this study proposed solutions ranging from simple QR-code labels to block chain-based platforms that track a panel's "digital passport" throughout its life.
"This transparency would enable quicker decisions on whether a panel is fit for reuse, without requiring extra testing at each change of hands."
"We have other established practices in electronics, batteries and mobile phones," she says. "By embracing a structured approach to the repurposing of solar panels, the renewable energy sector can significantly extend the lifecycle of these resources, contributing to a more sustainable, efficient and circular economy."
Research Report:Certification for Solar Panel Reuse: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sector Practices and Gaps
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