Government’s Commitment to Solar Recycling Pilot Amid Ongoing Delays

Delay in Solar Panel Recycling Pilot Raises Concerns for Industry

Solar panel recyclers find themselves in uncertainty as the suspension of the initial phase of a major pilot programme now stretches into its third month. However, the government remains resolute in its commitment to moving the project forward.

The pilot programme was indefinitely postponed in mid-May following concerns raised regarding the procurement process for appointing a scheme administrator.

Government Pledge to Restart the Pilot

This week, the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) provided no new information beyond its previous statement covered by Renew Economy earlier this month. Environment Minister Murray Watt assured that the government is dedicated to launching the pilot.

In a statement to Renew Economy, he remarked, “We want to see the pilot commence as soon as possible. Getting the rollout of the pilot right is really important – it’s crucial we have a sustainable and effective national solution to recycling end-of-life solar panels.” He added that the DCCEEW is actively working to appoint an administrator for the project.

Details of the Pilot Programme

Originally, the fully funded pilot, with a budget of $24.7 million, was set to kick off earlier this month and run for one year. It aims to establish 100 collection sites across the country, making recycling financially feasible by subsidising the cost of panels.

This initiative is designed to guide regulations in New South Wales (NSW), the leading state advocating for a recycling industry, and to lay the groundwork for a future stewardship scheme.

Industry Concerns Over Future Viability

Industry leaders, including James Petesic from PV Industries, have cautioned that prolonged delays could spell disaster for the recycling sector, potentially jeopardising Australia’s ability to reclaim valuable materials from discarded solar panels. Many hoped this could lead to the next resource boom for the country.

Already, several recyclers have been impacted by the sector’s primary challenge: a shortage of feedstock. Notable casualties include Reclaim PV, which ceased operations in 2023, and Sircel, which joined the industry last year after acquiring the solar recycling assets of bankrupt Scipher Technologies for $5 million in May 2024.