As solar energy becomes a core part of the UK’s transition to net zero, more businesses are installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across offices, warehouses, and industrial sites.
While solar panels are designed to last 25 years or more, organisations are increasingly asking an important question: what happens to solar panels at the end of their life?
The good news is that solar panels can be recycled in the UK, and there is a clear regulatory framework in place to ensure this happens responsibly.
Are Solar Panels Recyclable?
Yes. Solar panels are classed as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and are covered by UK WEEE regulations, which continue to apply post-Brexit. These regulations require electrical equipment to be properly collected, treated, and recycled at the end of its life.
A typical solar panel contains a high proportion of recyclable materials. Glass and aluminium make up most of the panel by weight, and both are widely and easily recycled. Other components, including silicon, plastics, and small amounts of metals, can also be recovered.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), between 80% and 95% of a solar panel’s materials can be recovered and reused, making solar one of the more recyclable energy technologies available today.
What Happens to Recycled Solar Panels?
While most of a panel’s materials can be recovered, recycled solar panels in the UK are unlikely to be turned into new solar panels. This is because solar panels are not currently manufactured at scale in the UK, with most production taking place overseas, particularly in China.
Instead, recovered materials are reused in other industries. For example, recycled glass may be used in automotive manufacturing, and aluminium can be reprocessed for construction or industrial applications. This still delivers strong environmental benefits by reducing the need for virgin materials and lowering overall lifecycle emissions.
How Businesses Can Recycle Solar Panels
For commercial sites, recycling solar panels is a specialist process and should not be handled in the same way as general waste or standard electrical equipment.
In most cases, the first point of contact should be the original installer or manufacturer. Many solar suppliers are legally required under WEEE regulations to offer take-back schemes or can arrange collection when panels are replaced, upgraded, or removed.
If panels are being removed independently, businesses can use licensed WEEE recycling centres, although transport and handling usually need to be arranged separately. Solar panels are large, heavy, and fragile, so specialist logistics are often required.
Once collected, panels are dismantled at approved recycling facilities. The aluminium frame and glass are removed first, followed by the separation and recovery of silicon cells and other materials. While this process is more complex than recycling household electronics, it allows most of the panel to be reused.
Why Solar Panel Recycling Matters for Businesses
As installed solar capacity grows across the UK, end-of-life planning is becoming an important part of responsible asset management. Businesses that invest in solar today need to consider not just installation and performance, but also decommissioning and recycling.
Proper recycling supports:
- Regulatory compliance under WEEE legislation
- ESG and sustainability reporting, demonstrating responsible lifecycle management
- Corporate net zero strategies, by reducing whole-life carbon impact
- Reputation and stakeholder confidence, particularly for asset owners and investors
Solar panels should never be sent to landfill, and businesses remain responsible for ensuring panels are disposed of correctly.
Planning for End-of-Life Solar Assets
Although most commercial solar systems still have many years of useful life ahead of them, planning early helps avoid future risks. Understanding who is responsible for recycling, what schemes are in place, and how systems will be decommissioned allows businesses to protect both compliance and value.
If there is uncertainty, local councils, original installers, or sustainability and energy consultants can help identify approved recycling routes and obligations.
Supporting a Circular Solar Economy
Recycling solar panels ensures that renewable energy remains genuinely sustainable across its full lifecycle. For UK businesses, responsible end-of-life management is not just a regulatory requirement, it is part of building a resilient, future-ready energy strategy that supports net zero ambitions.
As solar deployment continues to accelerate, recycling and circularity will play an increasingly vital role in the UK’s clean energy transition.
Find out how TEST Consulting can help with your solar strategy:
Tel: 0113 467 7650
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