Palletized solar modules await recycling in a SolarCycle warehouse.
Today, SEIA has unveiled a new roadmap to implement a circular economy approach throughout the U.S. solar and storage industry. As solar and storage account for a majority of the new power on America’s electric grid, this plan lays out a strategic vision to prepare the industry for the challenge of responsibly managing the growing volume of equipment reaching the end of its service life.
The circular economy is a model of resource production that decouples economic growth from resource consumption. Embracing the circular economy positions the solar and storage industry for long-term, sustainable growth by reducing reliance on new raw materials, mitigating risks posed by a linear economy, and cutting costs through resource efficiency. By extending the life of products and recovering valuable materials, the industry can scale more affordably, strengthen local economies, and enhance U.S. energy security.
Titled “A Vision for Implementing the Circular Economy in the Solar and Storage Industry,” the roadmap details how the industry will reduce waste, strengthen supply chains and extend the life of clean energy products — all while driving job creation and economic growth.
“As the industry continues to expand, it’s important that we implement strategies that extend the life of our products while reducing waste to unlock economic opportunities and a healthier environment. That’s what the circular economy is all about,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA president and CEO. “This roadmap outlines the everyday solutions for turning our vision into reality — by providing a concrete action plan to develop national standards, create demand for recovered and recycled materials and reduce waste in landfills.”
This first-of-its-kind roadmap includes an action plan for the solar and storage industry — in partnership with stakeholders, as well as federal, state and local governments — to:
- Develop national standards for recycling, decommissioning, and reuse of solar and storage equipment
- Provide support and technical assistance to manufacturers in order to create demand for recovered raw materials
- Support existing and new research & development workstreams to provide solutions to barriers to implementing a circular economy
- Develop contract language to satisfy financial assurance requirements for project decommissioning
- Develop zero waste-to-landfill best practices
- Develop model siting and handling guidelines for PV recycling facilities
- Craft a framework for a national network of solar and storage equipment collection sites that increase logistical efficiencies
- Convene a first-of-its-kind sustainability conference for our industry in the U.S.
- Advocate for legislation and regulatory requirements at the local/state/federal levels to make resource recovery easier and less expensive than land disposal.
- Assess and develop recommendations for further standards that support successful permitting of projects
The roadmap also includes a timeline for execution of the action plan, with key standards expected to be in place by 2026. SEIA will work closely with companies in the solar and storage industry, government agencies, the solid waste industry, academia, nongovernmental organizations and all participants in the value chain to bring this vision to life.
As the solar and storage industry continues to grow, SEIA’s Circular Economy Roadmap provides a vision for the future of the industry that mitigates uncertainty in the market, bolsters domestic manufacturing and supply chains and promotes economic growth through circularity.
View the full Circular Economy Roadmap here.
News item from SEIA
