Global demand for renewable energy continues to grow. With it, solar power has become one of the key drivers in decarbonization efforts while expanding access to energy worldwide. More and more of the world is installing solar panels, channeling the sun’s energy through photovoltaic technology . However, its finite service life also creates growing challenges associated with photovoltaic waste. 

Global Trends in Photovoltaic Waste Generation and the Mounting Risk

Driven by the rapid expansion of installed solar power, global photovoltaic waste generation is expected to increase substantially in the coming decades. Annual global installations of photovoltaic panels have exceeded 100 Gigawatts since 2020. In 2025, for instance, Africa alone reached 4.5 GW of solar capacity. Globally, these capacities are predicted to reach between 8,703 GW and 24,544 GW by 2060 across different growth scenarios. 

But the lifecycle does not stop at installation. The average lifespan of a photovoltaic module is 25 to 30 years. If predictions are correct, photovoltaic waste will peak globally between 2030 and 2060. What was 20,000 metric tons a year in 2020 will become half a million metric tons per year in 2030. It may eventually top 19 million metric tons in a year by 2060. Cumulatively, photovoltaic waste may have reached 402 million metric tons by 2060.

As the number of solar panels reaching the end of their useful life increases, understanding the environmental impacts associated with their production and end-of-life management has become increasingly important. Photovoltaic modules contain potentially hazardous elements, such as lead, copper, cadmium, and silicon. The release of these elements and subsequent exposure can pose significant risks to human health. Their improper disposal can also lead to environmental contamination, particularly through the leaching of toxic heavy metals into soil and groundwater. 

Repair, Reuse, Recycle

Efficient recycling is, therefore, essential for mitigating the risks associated with the end-of-life cycle of solar panels. Moreover, beyond its role in environmental protection, photovoltaic waste recycling can contribute to the recovery of critical raw materials for the deployment of more electricity generators.

However, recycling should not be the sole pathway for managing the end-of-life cycle of solar panels. Reuse and repair can provide complementary options, particularly for modules that remain functional, by extending their service life. Realistically, though, the wider adoption of reuse is currently constrained by inconsistent performance, reliability concerns, and limited market confidence in second-hand modules. 

Nonetheless, an effective circular strategy should therefore integrate all possible pathways. Reducing photovoltaic waste should be the first priority. Further research and development in repair, refurbishment, and performance testing could produce more resilient solar panels. It could also help establish a more economically viable and sustainable system with second-life photovoltaics. Then, the industry should prioritize reuse for modules that remain technically viable. And finally, recycling is for those that have reached the end of their functional life. This integrated approach could support a more resilient, cost-effective, and inclusive circular photovoltaic system. 

Toward a Resilient Photovoltaic Waste Management

The effectiveness of existing photovoltaic waste management remains uncertain due to substantial differences among countries and regions in socioeconomic conditions, supply chain structures, photovoltaic deployment histories, policy frameworks, and technological capabilities. These factors are also likely to evolve considerably in the future in response to climate targets, critical mineral constraints, deployment trends, and policy developments. Thus, evaluating photovoltaic waste management across regions with different characteristics and under plausible future scenarios is essential for developing solutions that are effective and equitable at the global level.

Stricter regulations on international waste trade and geopolitical uncertainty further the need for transparent and standardized cross-regional cooperation in photovoltaic recycling. Such mechanisms could reduce the environmental and health risks associated with informal processing while promoting harmonized standards and facilitating data exchange. Together, these measures could contribute to a more coordinated and effective global governance framework for photovoltaic waste management.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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