With newer technologies and an increased understanding of the solar or photovoltaic phenomenon, we have reached a place in time where solar energy equipment and products like solar panels, solar inverters and other allied accessories routinely pass 20, 25 years and still remain efficient as day one. While this is very positive and represents the best of renewable energy technology geared towards the winding down on consumption of fossil fuels, it also means that the end-of-life processes associated with solar energy equipment, especially solar panels, can be a bit challenging. More specifically, the disposal or recycling of solar panels that are past their prime. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the life cycle of a solar panel and understand the end-of-life processes of a solar panel.

As always, we will also look at the best solar equipment supplier in UAE, Beacon Energy, and how, with the provision of the best CanadianSolar panels in Dubai and UAE, the supplier is looking to revolutionize the solar energy skyline of the entire region. But first, let’s look at the life cycle of a solar panel.

The life cycle of solar panels

The life cycle of solar panels is characterized by their longevity. The average solar panel can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, meaning that for a solar energy system, the solar panels will remain operational and efficient for three decades. This raises an interesting dilemma about solar panels and their effect on sustainable energy consumption and generation, starting with the production of the solar panels themselves.

Let’s look at each part of the life cycle of solar panels and understand the implications, if any, that they might have on the carbon footprint and sustainability of a clean, green environment.

i. Manufacturing/ Production of solar panels

During the manufacturing of solar panels, companies use energy generated by conventional means; that is, from the grid. Since grid power mostly comes from unsustainable and non-renewable sources like fossil fuels, during this part of the life cycle of a solar panel, the production actually contributes to the carbon emissions and contributes to the usage of fossil fuels for energy generation. However, this is the part of the life cycle of a solar panel where conventionally generated energy is used, and for the next part, the solar panels won’t use any energy at all.

ii. Generating energy

The second part of the life cycle of a solar panel is its operational part, where, installed as part of a solar energy system, the solar panel generates energy. With solar panels, thousands of minute solar cells within the surface of the panel are responsible for energy generation.

During this process, sunlight accelerates the release of electrons from the elements within the solar cell, and this flow of electrons from each panel goes to the inverter, where the direct current or DC from the panels is converted to AC or alternating current to be used by the home.

This part of the cycle is the longest, with good quality solar panels like those from CanadianSolar supplied by Beacon Energy lasting for around 30 years. This means three decades of complete efficiency in powering your home without any hint of polluting fossil fuels.

iii. End of life, recycling/ Disposal

The final part of the solar panel life cycle is the end of life, the disposal part. After such a long time of generating energy, once a solar panel has outlived its utility, it needs to be properly decommissioned and disposed of to ensure that they do not litter and adversely affect the environment.

This means that the panels will need to be recycled to ensure that any important elements or materials can be recovered, or harmful materials that could otherwise affect the landfill or dumpsite are repurposed and reused. In solar panels, materials like glass, aluminium, silicon and copper can be extracted and repurposed, allowing a solar panel to stay clean and beneficial to the environment even during its end-of-life processes. However, since knowledge of recycling and the facilities equipped to handle such tasks are uncommon, therefore, the world and in particular the UAE region can push forward with this approach of recycling solar panels.

Beacon Energy: Your partner for unrivalled solar efficiency!

At Beacon Energy, our focus is on the provision of the best solar energy equipment in UAE; from solar panels by CanadianSolar to solar inverters from SOFAR Solar, the portfolio of products designed for solar efficiency are the crown jewel of Beacon Energy’s offerings in the region. Check us out at beaconenergy.aefor more information on the best solar energy equipment in UAE.