Recycling Dilemma Lurks Behind Canada’s Solar Panel Growth
Across the vast Canadian landscapes, renewable energy technologies are increasingly becoming the backbone of efforts to combat climate change. Yet, as these technologies gain traction, they bring forth challenges, particularly concerning the future of decommissioned devices like solar panels and wind turbines. One of the most vivid examples of this looming issue can be found at a peculiar site: a former pheasant hatchery turned solar panel repository.
Located about two hours east of Calgary, Alberta, the facility managed by Sunset Renewable Asset Management is now stacked high with thousands of damaged solar panels. These panels, numbering close to 10,000, are products of various misfortunes — from manufacturing mishaps to nature’s harshness, including damage from hail. They symbolize more than just failed technology; they represent the mounting waste problem associated with our pursuit of cleaner energy.
Dan Carrocci, the president of Sunset Renewable Asset Management, describes the growing waste from renewable energy installations as the “big green elephant” of the sector. He acknowledges the irony of renewable energies fostering their waste streams, particularly as the global push for cleaner energy sources accelerates. According to the Smart Prosperity Institute, Canada may generate up to 5 million tons of waste generated by wind and solar infrastructure by 2050.
The pressing question now is: How do we effectively manage this waste? The current recycling processes for solar panels and wind turbines, which are over 90% recyclable, remain prohibitively expensive. For large solar farms, the costs of recycling could run up to tens of millions of dollars. It’s far more economical for operators to send broken panels to landfills, with disposal potentially costing 90% less than recycling.
This scenario poses significant environmental concerns, echoing the sentiments of Geoff McCarney, senior research director at the Smart Prosperity Institute. He warns, “Just producing this much waste and landfilling it going forward, it’s not really a sustainable solution.” The challenge is exacerbated by the need for increased renewable energy adoption to meet emissions targets, which appear to continuously reinforce the struggle of waste management.
While the statistics may seem disheartening, there’s also room for optimism. Some businesses are already eyeing this new waste stream as an opportunity for growth. Evan Wilson, vice president at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), asserts, “Companies thinking about recycling now will really be booming 20 years down the road.” This could mean vast opportunities for developing innovative recycling systems dedicated to dismantling and repurposing old solar panels and wind turbine components.
Given the materials’ nature, the recycling process remains complex. Experts like Warren Mabee, director at Queen’s University’s Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy, highlight these complications: “They’re recyclable for sure, or at least most of the materials are recyclable. But it’s challenging and it might cost more than you get back in the value of the material you’re recycling.”
The Alberta Recycling Management Authority faced its share of these challenges during its pilot project to manage solar panel waste, which began accepting these devices as electronics waste in 2020. CEO Ed Gugenheimer stated, “We soon realized it’s very difficult to recycle these materials.” While some panels were refurbished, the rest had to be sent to the United States, where facilities were established to handle the waste.
Carrocci, hoping to fill some of these gaps, has initiated strategies to manage these materials more sustainably. His company has developed mobile deconstruction units to strip the panels for parts, some of which can be sent directly for traditional recycling, like metals, and others for innovative uses such as concrete or asphalt substitution.
Interestingly, wind turbines have their own unique recycling issues, especially with the blades. These are often constructed with composite materials, making them particularly challenging to break down and recycle. While there are initiatives underway, like repurposing blades as park benches, options remain limited due to the robustness of the materials involved.
Meanwhile, Montreal-based FibeCycle is tackling the challenge of recycling wind turbine blades. The company claims to have found ways to break down the composite material and use it to create new fibre-reinforced polymers suitable for various applications including construction and consumer products.
Despite challenges, progressive legislative measures are being explored as provinces move to integrate recycling systems for these clean energy components. British Columbia is set to add solar panels to its existing recycling regulations, and Alberta is enhancing its e-waste pilot program to create permanent recycling systems for end-of-life wind and solar infrastructure.
Notably, experts are also advocating for a more fundamental shift—designing renewable energy technology with recycling potential in mind from inception. Warren Mabee stresses, “The more we can design for recyclability upfront, the easier it will be for those who manage their disposal years down the road.” Such foresight could significantly lessen the burden of waste produced by renewable energies.
This blend of challenges and opportunities showcases the dynamic nature of the renewable energy sector. While advancements continue, proactive approaches are necessary to curb the waste threat accompanying these technologies. The transformation of the former pheasant hatchery symbolizes a broader call-to-action for innovative recycling solutions—essential not only for supporting environmental goals but also for enabling sustainable growth within the renewable energy industry.
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