UNSW study finds that effective solar module recycling practices could eliminate the need to mine for materials to make new PV. Instead, we would “mine from waste.”
The perspective shift comes as a paper led by Deng [Dr Rong Deng from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).] suggests recycled solar panels could, in 15 years, supply 50 per cent of the industry’s silver and aluminium needs, and within 25 years all of those needs as older models use more metals than newer, more advanced ones.
