Queensland Could See 1.2 Million Solar Panels Decommissioned Next Year

A new facility is expected to dismantle around 240,000 solar panels a year, which would otherwise go to landfill.

Three men install solar panels on a roof as storm clouds approach in Albany, Western Australia, on Aug. 29, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but they contain valuable metals, including silver and copper. Sending them to landfills when they’re decommissioned wastes those resources and takes up considerable space.

The Smart Energy Council (SEC) estimates that 1.2 million solar panels will be decommissioned next year in Queensland alone.