The government has decided to raise the recycling and reuse rate of solar energy waste panels to ‘more than 80%’, the level of the European Union (EU) within three years.
On the 5th, the government discussed and confirmed the ‘solar energy waste panel management reinforcement plan’ at the 14th ministerial meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.
Meanwhile, the supply of solar energy production has increased according to the trend of expanding new and renewable energy, and the amount of waste solar panel energy produced is expected to increase rapidly from 2027, and the need for control waste panels are increasing, a government official explains.
In particular, waste panels can recover useful resources such as aluminum, silver, copper, and silicon through recycling, so systematic management is important in terms of resource circulation.
Accordingly, the government, which focuses on related ministries, has prepared this control reinforcement plan as a precondition considering the entire life cycle of solar panels in order to prepare for an increase in the production of waste panels and promote recycling.
First of all, the government decided to incentivize the design and production of solar panels with a structure that is easy to recycle from the solar panel production stage.
Through technology validation and industry consultation, solar panels have been included in the ‘ex-control’ of the Environmental Assurance System (EcoAS), and there are plans to allow the public sector to use panels that qualify for the Environmental Assurance System. It plans to promote advanced recycling research and development, including next-generation solar cell module recycling technology, and expand the use of mobile performance testing equipment.
Security control was also strengthened during dismantling. Even if the power system is shut down, solar power facilities continue to generate electricity from the panel, which poses a risk of electric shock or fire. To this end, the law is being revised so that specialist electricity companies can carry out dismantling work, such as installation work, and create standard specifications that include panel installation and removal procedures for safe construction.
In the collection stage, a customized collection system is prepared according to the size and shape of the waste panels and prepares for the mass production of waste panels due to natural disasters.
Waste panels produced on a small scale from homes and farms are collected using the ‘home waste panel collection system’ operated by the mutual aid society, and waste panels produced on a large scale from power plants and public institutions are dismantled by specialist companies and centralize them. on the mutual aid society. We intend to return it to you.
If a large amount of waste solar panels occurs in mountainous areas due to natural disasters, etc., a storage system is implemented that focuses on future waste resource base collection centers by region throughout the country, and an emergency contact system (local government-Environmental. Corporation) established in case of emergency It intends to promptly inform local governments and operators about the panel storage system and procedures.
In the treatment stage, it will establish its own recycling system for each of the five major regions, including the expansion of the two existing recycling companies to seven companies (organizations).
In the four major inland regions, six companies (organizations) promoting new facilities or expansion will carry out regional recycling starting this year, and the Jeju region will operate in the second half of this year.
In addition, in order to reduce the logistics cost required for the collection and recycling of waste panels, it was decided to promote the installation of intermediate collection facilities in 17 cities and states throughout the country. It is planned to complete the installation of collection facilities by city and state within this year, and expand the number to 200 by 2025 to act as a unit collection system for basic local governments.
Guidelines for the use of reusable panels are also being prepared to reduce the amount of waste panels produced.
Reuse criteria, including external condition, power generation and insulation performance, etc. will be introduced to trigger reuse checks before recycling, and the mandatory collection amount to be applied to the EPR will be calculated taking into account the amount reused. It intends to promote recycling ODA resources that support waste panel treatment facilities and technology for developing countries.
In addition, the government intends to provide comprehensive information on the entire life cycle of solar panels at a public level.
With the Producer Responsibility Recycling System for solar panels to be implemented starting this year, it was decided to draw up measures to manage and use information relating to solar panels by collaborating with related organisations.
In the future, the plan is to increase the reliability of the forecasted number of waste panels to support the appropriate level of investment in facilities and the correct calculation of collection and recycling obligations.
Inquiries: Government Policy Coordination Office, Government Office Performance Evaluation Evaluation Office General Policy Office 044-200-2499
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