Abstract
Solar panels have been rapidly introduced as a means of mitigating climate change and enhancing energy security through certain policies such as the feed-in tariff of 2012. So far, many of the used solar panels could be reused, and because these contain aluminum, silver, and other valuable metals those that are not reusable are recycled. However, there are reasons that make recycling problematic: difficulties in separating out glass and some of the other parts, antifoaming chemicals used in the cover glass, and special plastics contained in the back sheet all make it harder to fully recycle the panels. It is forecast that there will be a sharp increase in discarded waste solar panels by the 2030s, and in fact some have recently been disposed of in large amounts due to such things as improper installations and damage from natural disasters. In line with the 3R Principle, we must immediately enforce the promotion of reuse, recycling, and proper waste management for solar energy systems.
