Japan's Power Market News 2024/W39

Japan's Power Market News 2024/W39

Japan to Formulate an Effective Recycling System for Solar Panels

Japan has started discussions to design a #recycling system for #solar panels at the Solar Power Generation Equipment Recycling Working Group led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Environment (MOE). The group hopes to work out an effective recycling system to ensure that (used) solar panels are handed over by the owners of power generation facilities to enterprises that reuse and recycle them, once their lifespan is complete.

Solar panels have been rapidly gaining popularity since the introduction of the feed-in tariff program (FIT) in 2012. With an average lifespan of 20 to 30 years, the disposal volume is expected to increase starting in the mid-2030s. It is estimated that the weight of discarded solar panels could reach 500,000 tons per year.


Challenges and Progress Toward Solar Panel Recycling

Panel recycling presents challenges because #glass constitutes about 60% of the panel weight, while #plastics make up nearly 20%, and currently there are no mandates for recycling. In response to the current situation, MOE recently updated the guidelines for the promotion of recycling solar power generation equipment.

Initial discussions focused on the importance of establishing a system to ensure a stable supply of solar panels to recycling companies while implementing recycling above a certain quality level. They also discussed topics such as the burden of costs for dismantling, removal, transportation, and recycling, and the nature of information management to ensure traceability. Details are expected to be finalized by this winter and MOE plans to submit a related bill to the ordinary Diet session in 2025.


Japan is developing a solar panel recycling system as panel waste is projected to hit 500,000 tons annually by the mid-2030s. The focus is on ensuring stable panel supply for recyclers, quality recycling standards, cost allocation for dismantling and transport, and traceability. Final details are expected by winter, with a bill planned for 2025.



Let me know your thoughts below, and thank you for reading.

If you find this newsletter insightful, please subscribe to stay up to date on the latest Japanese power market news or get in touch for more information.

READ MORE from our newsletter: Japan’s Master Plan for Cross-Regional Grid Coordination to Be Reviewed Amid Growing Power Demand

Dan Shulman

Japanese Energy Market | Energytech | Renewables | Power Wholesale and Retail | Bilingual Expert Team | Consulting & Local Representation | Helping worldwide companies enter the Japanese market and thrive

1 周

Japan's Power Market News 2024/W40. Shulman Advisory shares the latest news on research projecting a swift transition to the PPA business model in the PV market: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/japans-power-market-news-2024w40-dan-shulman-vjwec

回复
Dan Shulman

Japanese Energy Market | Energytech | Renewables | Power Wholesale and Retail | Bilingual Expert Team | Consulting & Local Representation | Helping worldwide companies enter the Japanese market and thrive

2 周

要查看或添加评论,请登录

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了