The Sydney-based startup has installed proprietary machines at the ReSource e-waste recycling plant at Derrimut to allow silver, copper and other valuable materials to be recovered from end-of-life solar panels. In Beon’s case, these are typically the small proportion of damaged or faulty panels left over from the construction of solar farms.
We recently visited the Derrimut plant – along with a Channel Nine news crew – to learn more about the recycling process.
Ahead of the visit, Beon delivered 500 damaged panels to support the company’s research and development program. These panels are the latest handover from more than 5,000 Beon has stockpiled through the construction of solar farms across Australia’s eastern states since 2022.
PV Industries’ process can also recycle panels from residential systems, which is a growing challenge as older rooftop installations are upgraded.
The company’s proprietary system can recover valuable materials without the need for harmful chemicals. Their approach separates materials into clean streams so they can be reused to make new products.
Beon’s solar panel challenge
Beon deals with a lot of solar panels. More than 600,000 are currently being installed at the Broadsound Solar Farm in regional Queensland, which represents just one of Beon’s portfolio of 15 projects across Australia and New Zealand.
With so many panels being deployed, it is inevitable that some panels are damaged or faulty.
Beon’s Team Lead Sustainability, Kirsten Lee, said that while the company had been a leader in solar, it had identified a gap in the management of damaged or faulty panels and is now taking steps to address it.
“We install hundreds of thousands of solar panels across Australia every year, so it was important for us to find a responsible solution to dispose of modules that can’t be used. Sending these panels to landfill simply didn’t align with our commitment to sustainability, so we investigated viable recycling solutions.”
Kirsten Lee, Team Lead Sustainability, Beon
Unique recycling challenge
Solar panels present unique recycling challenges. Components are sealed within a plastic polymer to ensure reliable performance in harsh outdoor conditions. This makes cells difficult to dismantle and process at the end of their life.
PV Industries has developed a mechanical recycling process designed specifically for solar panels, improving on existing systems that rely on chemicals or repurposed electronic waste recycling methods.
Co-founder James Petesic said the partnership has helped them to meet a gap in the market.
“We noticed a clear need in the market to provide a high-volume solar panel recycling solution for the utility-sale sector, who are installing millions of solar panels in Australia every year. We are excited about the partnership with Beon, who have supported us through our early-stage research and development to bring a sustainable recycling solution to support the industry.”
James Petesic, Co-founder, PV Industries
“We install hundreds of thousands of solar panels across Australia every year, so it was important for us to find a responsible solution to dispose of modules that can’t be used.
Sending these panels to landfill simply didn’t align with our commitment to sustainability, so we investigated viable recycling solutions.”
Kirsten Lee, Team Lead Sustainability, Beon
Unique recycling challenge
Solar panels present unique recycling challenges. Components are sealed within a plastic polymer to ensure reliable performance in harsh outdoor conditions. This makes cells difficult to dismantle and process at the end of their life.
PV Industries has developed a mechanical recycling process designed specifically for solar panels, improving on existing systems that rely on chemicals or repurposed electronic waste recycling methods.
Co-founder James Petesic said the partnership has helped them to meet a gap in the market.
“We noticed a clear need in the market to provide a high-volume solar panel recycling solution for the utility-sale sector, who are installing millions of solar panels in Australia every year.
We are excited about the partnership with Beon, who have supported us through our early-stage research and development to bring a sustainable recycling solution to support the industry.”
James Petesic, Co-founder, PV Industries