The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering has called for a national reuse and recycling scheme for solar panels that would add about $10 to the cost of each panel at installation.
The proposal was made during a federal inquiry into solar panel waste but some experts say recycling could cost more due to transport and logistics.
A national solar panel recycling pilot program due to begin mid this year is yet to start.
The economic benefits of recycling solar panels could provide real economic benefits, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.
The study found the recycling industry could generate up to $US670.8 billion ($950.6 billion) globally by 2060.
"We need to think of solar panels as part of a circular economy rather than a disposable product,
Come now, I have had several FIGJAMs tell me that solar panels are essentially just junk at end of life, we basically have to bury them underground they are so toxic… So we might as well keep burning coal. I think they would know, they are self professed smart guys on the internet.
They are as insufferable as the nuclear advocates who regard every renewable as a distraction from building out more nuclear generation capacity.
Every time I hear nuclear mentioned, I say yes that was a great thing 20 years ago if we started building it 35 years ago. Its too expensive, takes too long to build, and nobody is putting their hands up to store the spent rods in their sheds unless they are already on an asio watchlist.
They are sheets of silicon dioxide…our beaches are already seeing it pile up so high kids are playing in it!
These energy companies pay millions for PR firms to spread misinformation about energy. Talk to any American about the evils of ethanol in gasoline, they will tell you all kinds of internet chemistry.
But the biggest problem with energy is the idea that any grid has to be binary in its source of power. We don’t need 100% renewables, we can reach real goals of significant reduction of emissions and cheaper energy without being zealots about any one source.