Though solar and wind power are both sources of so-called “green energy”, this does not mean that it has no impact on the environment.
 
“On the contrary, very large amounts of waste need to be disposed of when solar panels and wind turbines reach their end life,” warns Patricia Schröder, spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy. “Discussions about solar and wind power waste and energy generation múst all take place around the same stakeholder tables, especially with the government’s focus on renewable energy in the wake of the Eskom crisis.”
 
Waste prevention is better than cure
According to Schroder, steps have to be taken right away to avert future disasters.
“According to research by the International Renewable Energy Agency, South Africa will have accumulated between 750 000 and 1 million tons of PV waste by 2050. The researchers correctly point out that, if badly designed and managed, this could cause significant environmental harm.”
 
Photovoltaic panels and wind turbines are both tough to break down and can’t be readily recycled.
“Modern Solar PV units contain several toxins and metals, like lead and cadmium, that are exceedingly dangerous for both the environment and human health. When used solar panels are dumped in landfills, such materials swiftly flow down into groundwater."
 
Schroder adds that South Africa does, in fact, have the necessary recycling capacity, however, for this to succeed, waste volumes must be diverted to PRO-accredited service providers to be legally managed in an environmentally sound manner. Furthermore, industry support and buy-in to the take-back systems will change the current status of an alarmingly low compliance rate to the EPR Regulations of these industries.
 
“To maximise recycling or the reuse of solar PV and wind components, local manufacturing capacity needs to be expanded. Developing both recycling and local manufacturing capacity can help objectives of a just transition, such as job creation across the renewable energy value chain.”
 
She adds that researchers encourage the development of recycling systems and strategies in the meantime.  "This includes enhancing our waste management systems, making public investments in recycling infrastructure, and providing incentives for the private sector and Eskom to increase its capacity for recycling.”
 
How can producers identify legitimate service providers?
Schroder says the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has useful guidelines that state the obligations of PRO’s, and their waste management schemes.
 
“They must develop a system to collect the EPR fees, maintain a register of its members and conduct internal and external financial audits and submit to the department,” she notes.
 
Furthermore, legitimate service providers should upload an External Audit Report to the SA Waste Information Centre (SAWIC) for public access; collect, record, manage and submit data to the South African Waste Information System and finally liaise with the downstream value chain for services to ensure that the contracting process is fair and transparent.
 
“When all role players work together, green energy systems can cause as little harm as possible to the environment during its complete life cycle - not just whilst it generates electricity,” Schroder concludes.
 
ENDS
 
MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux, 060 995 6277, rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za 
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/ 
LinkedIn: Circular Energy

As South Africa increasingly looks to renewables to help address the country’s chronic energy crisis, independent power producers must ensure they have the right systems in place to dispose of wind and solar energy and associated storage equipment reaching the end of its life cycle.
 
World leaders attending the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) have praised South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), which outlines planned investment to accelerate the country’s shift away from coal.
 
Patricia Schröder, the spokesperson for the producer responsibility organisation (PRO) Circular Energy, says it is crucial that plans to increase the country’s use of renewable energy also cover waste management. “Our commitment to sustainability cannot simply focus on how we generate energy but must extend across the entire energy value chain, Schröder explains. 
 
Renewable energy does generate waste
Wind and solar power and storage equipment typically have a lifespan of between 15 and 30 years, requiring power producers to plan well beyond their immediate waste disposal needs.
 
As countries around the world have increased their capacity to generate renewable energy in recent years, the volume of used wind and solar power and storage equipment that needs to be disposed of, has also steadily increased. This equipment typically has a lifespan of between 15 and 30 years
 
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has estimated that globally photovoltaic panels used to generate solar power may create a cumulative 60 to 78 million tons of waste by 2050. IRENA estimates that in South Africa, this number could amount to 1 million tons by that same year.
 
Renewable equipment can be recycled
Schröder says producers must use the time at their disposal to consider the best solutions for the future disposal of the equipment they install now. However, producers already have existing obligations under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, which came into effect in May 2021.
 
These regulations aim to ensure that producers are accountable for the entire life cycle of the products they place on the market, from conception to post-consumer waste disposal.
 
Schröder says South Africa does have the capacity to recycle solar and wind generation and storage equipment. Between 80% of 90% of a wind turbine can be recycled, including the concrete and steel used to build turbine towers. Similarly, the glass and aluminium frame of a solar panel makes up more than 80% of its weight and both these materials can easily be recycled. Battery storage systems of all chemistries are recycled in South Africa.
 
Compliance with EPR regulations will help to ensure that equipment at the end of its life cycle is channelled to the appropriately licenced facilities.  “Without the correct systems in place, the very same equipment that was designed to be green can end up having a very detrimental impact on the environment,” Schröder says. 
                                 
She says Circular Energy wants to help producers to care for the environment through a multi-faceted, best-practice strategy. “PROs like Circular Energy can offer producers advice and services to help them to comply with regulations and contribute to putting in place the concept of a circular economy that can unlock opportunities for growth and employment.”
 
ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Rosa-Mari Le Roux,060 995 6277 rosa-mari@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za  
 
For more information on Circular Energy please visit:
Website: https://www.circular-energy.org/  
LinkedIn: Circular Energy