The Queensland Government has officially launched Australia’s leading solar panel recycling, reuse and recovery pilot, in partnership with the Smart Energy Council.
The program, announced earlier this year, will deliver solar panel recycling across the state, and guide better practice in the renewable energy sector by improving industry engagement with communities.
The Solar Panel Stewardship program was officially launched in Redlands as part of Community Cabinet, with six solar panel collection sites across the state now confirmed.
The sites include Capalaba and North Lakes in greater Brisbane, along with the Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville. A total of 15 locations will be announced soon, covering large swathes of the state.
The pilot is supported by almost $5.5 million in funding as part of the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund, and the Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Association Grant.
The product stewardship pilot is designed to test the feasibility of collection, re-use and recycling for solar panels from homes, businesses and solar farms, ensuring a significant reduction in landfill. It will inform the creation of a national stewardship scheme.
The trial will also incorporate two regional ‘legacy runs’ in which local councils will gather household panels for pickup. Installers and importers with accumulated stock are included in the collection.
Participating in the pilot are leading recycling, reuse companies and solar industry firms Rexel, Resolarcycle, and Solar Shift. The Smart Energy Council is working closely with local councils in the rollout of this program.
Leanne Linard, Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Innovation and Science, said the start of collections is a fantastic milestone as the government works to establish a best-practice recovery scheme for panels being replaced as well as providing the opportunity for these panels to be given a new or extended life or be recycled to the highest standard.
“I am heartened by the strong interest in the pilot from recyclers and local councils,” she said.
“I look forward to the pilot’s successful completion and a full evaluation so we can apply what has been learnt to a permanent scheme.”
There are more than 40,000 solar systems soaking up the sun in the Redlands region alone. Member for Capalaba, Don Brown said the program is the next step in the region’s clean energy transition, completing the loop on the full life cycle of a solar panel.
The Queensland Solar Stewardship Scheme has already triggered a massive growth of investment in the recovery and recycling of solar panels, according to John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Smart Energy Council.
“More than five recycling companies have already indicated they’ll be entering the market in Queensland. It’s exciting to get this important nation-leading work started.
“The recycling ecosystem is a critical part of securing the renewable energy transition into the future and provide insurance against future material limits like copper and silver.”
For more information, visit: www.statements.qld.com.au
Related stories:
QLD plan to ban solar panels from landfill
Queensland government funds solar panel recycling pilot