Renewable energy infrastructure, which the majority of is relatively new, will inevitably face decommissioning as it reaches the end of its lifespan. This reality is becoming evident in an unusual setting: a former pheasant hatchery in Canada, now home to thousands of damaged solar panels awaiting recycling.
The facility, managed by Sunset Renewable Asset Management, holds nearly 10,000 broken solar panels. The company is working to finding innovative solutions for the disposal and recycling of green energy technology, particularly by identifying financially viable methods to extract and reuse valuable minerals found in the panels.
Experts project that by 2050, Canada alone could generate close to 5 million tons of waste from wind and solar infrastructure. According to a researcher from a University of Ottawa think tank, while renewable energy aims to combat climate change, it could create new environmental challenges without proper waste management strategies.
Companies like Sunset Renewable Asset Management are focusing on efficient recycling solutions for materials used in renewable infrastructure. The pheasant hatchery, with its large industrial building, serves as a solar panel “graveyard,” where efforts are underway to give the components a second life.
Although solar panels and wind turbines are up to 90% recyclable, the recycling process remains costly. For large-scale solar farms, recycling expenses can run into tens of millions of dollars, while dumping the materials in landfills would be nearly 90% cheaper. Similarly, decommissioning a single wind turbine can exceed half a million dollars in costs.
Both local and national governments are beginning to explore more comprehensive recycling systems for renewable energy technology. However, for now, the challenge of managing green energy waste is set to grow as the world continues its transition toward sustainable power sources.