The Project will coordinate the collection and recycling of the PV modules [i.e., solar panels] and for minimizing the potential for modules to be discarded. If there is no possibility for reuse, PV panels will either be returned to the manufacturer for appropriate recycling/disposal or will be transported to a recycling facility where the glass, metal and semiconductor will be recycled. Best management practices at the time of decommissioning shall be utilized.

Louisa County, Board of Supervisors minutes, oct 2016, belcher solar llc application, packet p 153

The disposal of the actual solar panels (called “PV modules” in solar developer terminology) is the biggest challenge of all in closing a solar plant. Each panel measures roughly 3′ x 5′ and weighs about 40 pounds (see Energy Sage’s Average Solar Panel Size and Weight for more details). The documentation for the solar project in this example says that the panels will be “returned to the manufacturer” or recycled. But what happens if the manufacturers (roughly 90 percent of whom are in China) refuse to accept the return of used and obsolete solar panels? Who pays the cost of returning them to China or other locations? And if the panels cannot be returned and recycling of obsolete panels is not feasible, what happens to the panels? If any of these happen, it is logical to assume that the panels will end up in a landfill. The question is, whose landfill will get them?

Potential questions:

  1. Given that 90% of all solar panels are manufactured in China, how does the project developer propose to ship them “back to the manufacturer”?
  2. What will happen if the Chinese company that made them is no longer in operation or if China is no longer accepting old and out-of-date solar panels from other countries?
  3. How many solar panels are currently recycled in the United States each year, according to the most recent data? What percentage of all solar panels in the country does that constitute?
  4. Where are the hard numbers showing that recycling of old solar panels is cost effective for recyclers?
  5. What is the industry’s best estimate of how many solar panels will need to be recycled 20 years from now from Virginia alone?
  6. What is meant by “best management practices at the time of decommissioning?” Please be specific.
  7. If there is a glut of old solar panels on the market 20 years from now, with few or no recycling options available, where are the panels in this project likely to end up? Please be specific.

See also: