Jarrod Reedie
Solar panels have a lifespan of approximately 25 years and photovoltaic (PV) systems deliver a positive return for decades after their cost is recovered, but by 2035, Australia’s waste stream will contain over 100,000 tonnes of solar panels.
Australia has the highest proportion of household PV systems in the world, with more than 21 percent of homes now possessing a solar energy system.
There is currently no clear waste management plan for solar panels within Australia, and with the materials being classed as e-waste, it means that panels cannot be simply thrown into landfill sites.
There is roughly only $5 worth of recyclable materials found in a single solar panel, and experts believe there must be a plan in place before many of the solar panels that sit atop the roofs of Australian suburbia are replaced or thrown out.
Researchers at the University of South Australia are leading a national push to ensure the dream of renewable energy doesn't become a nightmare of waste.
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IMAGE: The burning of rice husks is a major contributor to air pollution and landfill in India. view more
Credit: UniSA
University of South Australia thermal energy researcher Professor Frank Bruno has been awarded almost $1 million by the Federal Government to find a solution to agricultural pollution in Australia and India.
Prof Bruno, South Australian Energy Chair at UniSA s Future Industries Institute, will lead a collaborative project with India s biggest private university, LPU, to develop a renewable energy-driven food processing and drying system which alleviates both pollution and landfill issues in both countries.
India is the largest global producer of food, while Australia is one of the world s largest food exporters.
Thermal energy storage key to reducing agricultural food pollution miragenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from miragenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.