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The surge in solar photovoltaic deployment is expected to trigger a significant rise in the number of panels reaching retirement, underscoring the urgency of adopting more robust circular economy measures to cut waste and reclaim valuable components, as stated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
Solar PV makes up roughly half of the world’s cumulative installed renewable power generation and is anticipated to stay a cornerstone of the worldwide shift toward cleaner energy. Yet, because the typical operational life of most solar installations spans 25 to 30 years, an increasing volume of modules will come to the end of their useful period over the next several decades.
In Irena’s pathway aligned with a 1.5°C climate target, the cumulative weight of retired solar PV panels globally is set to surpass 25 million metric tons by 2050, which corresponds to over 400 gigawatts (GW) of generating capacity. Handling such a scale will demand substantial logistical networks and processing facilities. Irena calculates that, over the coming ten years, the collection and treatment of retired panels will necessitate at least 120,000 heavy-duty truck journeys and more than 150 fully equipped mid-sized recycling plants.
The organization emphasized that applying circular economy concepts—centered on minimizing, reusing, and recycling modules—can limit waste while opening up economic prospects via the extraction of valuable substances. Existing recycling methods are capable of retrieving over 90 percent of the materials in end-of-life solar panels, such as copper, aluminum, silver, silicon, and glass. As technology progresses, the extraction efficiency for precious minerals could climb toward nearly 100 percent. These reclaimed inputs can be channeled back into supply chains and utilized in producing new industrial goods.
Irena projects that the yearly financial worth of materials salvaged from retired solar PV panels might hit $6 billion by 2040 and surpass $20 billion by 2050. The circular economy also holds potential for job creation in areas like collection, maintenance, reuse, and recycling. In 2024, solar PV already represented 43 percent of employment in the renewable energy sector, equating to more than 7.2 million positions worldwide. Irena pointed out that with adequate workforce training, between 60 and 140 jobs could be created for every 1,000 tonnes of materials gathered for e-waste reuse, drawing on findings from a European social enterprise network.
In emerging markets, circular economy initiatives could also offer earning possibilities for workers in the informal sector. Nevertheless, the agency cautioned that policy measures must tackle possible health and safety hazards, especially for informal laborers engaged in waste collection and recycling. A fair and inclusive framework should integrate labor rights, safety protocols, and environmental protections to guarantee that the financial gains from solar PV recycling do not compromise worker well-being.
Irena further underscored the importance of collaboration among governments, businesses, recyclers, employees, and other relevant parties. Circular economy approaches will need to be tailored to the economic conditions and priorities of each market while still meeting environmental and social goals.
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