UK solar must become circular - report

Titled ‘From Linear to Circular: Evidence from the UK solar sector’, the report outlines and addresses environmental concerns over the amount of materials embedded in UK solar installations (an estimated 152,523 tonnes of aluminium, 8,745 tonnes of copper and 667,947 tonnes of glass by the end of 2023) and how they could become a problematic waste stream in the future.

It advocates for materials and products to be kept in circulation for as long as possible. Doing so would help the UK’s Net Zero Strategy and target of 70GW solar capacity by 2035.  

The report also highlights several circular economy initiatives that are leading the way, including a project where used car tyres could play a role in manufacturing solar panels, and another where old solar panels have been revitalised for use in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

In a statement, report co-author Ananda Nidhi, an Impact Fellow at the Exeter Centre for the Circular Economy and CE-Hub of NICER programme, said: “By adopting circular economy principles, the UK solar industry can enhance resource security and reduce reliance on often volatile global supply chains by prioritising the reuse and recycling of materials within the UK.

“It could also tackle the estimated 1.2m tonnes of solar waste that could be generated by 2050 by keeping over $2bn worth of aluminium, copper and silver embedded in solar PVs in use, while at the same time generating between $0.46bn from increased recycling rates. 

“A circular economy also has the potential to stimulate economic growth by creating new jobs and fostering the development of businesses in the repair, refurbishment and recycling sectors.”

The research team, including Professors Peter Hopkinson, Fiona Charnley and Markus Zils from Exeter University’s Business School and PhD student Matt Burnell, interviewed solar industry experts and stakeholders and conducted a literature review before constructing an analysis of the flow of materials in the UK solar sector with forward projections to 2050.

The report outlines core areas of focus across the solar value chain that will spur a transition to a truly circular economy. For materials and products coming into the supply chain this means increasing focus on sourcing sustainable materials, designing products that are more easily reused, repaired and recycled, plus implementing systems to trace the origin and lifecycle of materials to promote transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain.

Initiatives leading the way include a NICER programme-funded project that explores the potential of using recycled carbon black from used vehicle tyres in high-value applications like solar photovoltaics.

The project’s research team found that carbon black from used tyres could match or even surpass the performance of pure materials, providing a circular alternative to incineration or landfill for the 29 million tonnes of vehicle tyres that reach the end of their lifespan globally each year.

Another example of product re-use is Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s collaboration with Cornish start-up Re-Solar to rescue and rehome solar panels.

The panels were sent to Ukraine to help provide renewable decentralised power to the country at a time when its traditional energy sources are under continual threat. The report also identifies the barriers to circularity, such as a lack of end-of-life policies, design limitations and data gaps and addresses these barriers with recommendations for policymakers/regulators, manufacturers, supply chain partners, third-party/certification bodies and academic institutions.

The report is available to read and download here.