Solar Panels In Landfills: In Need of Some Circularity Thinking

What happens to a solar cell at the end of its life? Today it goes to the dump.

If we want the world to run on renewable energy, we’ll have to find a better way.

This is just one of the problems that still remain to be solved to realize solar energy’s potential. We want to make it easy for producers to upgrade as the tech improves, without filling up landfills and depleting the raw materials we need.

This is where some circularity thinking may help.

According to Garvin Heath, senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, it currently costs $20 to $30 to recycle a panel versus $1 to $2 to send it to a landfill. . .

pv-magazine-usa.com/2020/12/03/solar-panel-recycling-in-the-us-a-looming-issue-that-could-harm-growth-and-reputation/

About The Author

Katherine Radeka

Katherine Radeka helps innovators change the world — faster. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Rapid Learning Cycles Institute. Katherine is the author of The Shortest Distance Between You and Your New Product: How Innovators Use Rapid Learning Cycles to Get Their Best Ideas to Market Faster. Her first book, The Mastery of Innovation, won the Shingo Research Award. Her most recent book, High Velocity Innovation was published in Fall 2019 by Career Press.