UK solar must become circular - report

Titled ‘From Linear to Circular: Evidence from the UK solar sector’, the report outlines and addresses environmental concerns over the amount of materials embedded in UK solar installations (an estimated 152,523 tonnes of aluminium, 8,745 tonnes of copper and 667,947 tonnes of glass by the end of 2023) and how they could become a problematic waste stream in the future.

It advocates for materials and products to be kept in circulation for as long as possible. Doing so would help the UK’s Net Zero Strategy and target of 70GW solar capacity by 2035.  

The report also highlights several circular economy initiatives that are leading the way, including a project where used car tyres could play a role in manufacturing solar panels, and another where old solar panels have been revitalised for use in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

In a statement, report co-author Ananda Nidhi, an Impact Fellow at the Exeter Centre for the Circular Economy and CE-Hub of NICER programme, said: “By adopting circular economy principles, the UK solar industry can enhance resource security and reduce reliance on often volatile global supply chains by prioritising the reuse and recycling of materials within the UK.