South Korea advances solar panel recycling program
Jan 19, 2023
The South Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy (MOTIE) approved a solar panel recycling program at a ministerial meeting held by Prime Minister Han Duk-soo a few days ago.
It is reported that the new regulations establish a standardized collection system for each major region of the country to ensure that the recycling/reuse rate of waste solar panels exceeds 80%. At the same time, the plan also laid the foundation for the creation of a departmental statistical system.
The scheme aims to encourage the full reuse of solar modules before their final recycling. At the same time, it will also introduce certification under the framework of the Ecological Assurance System (ECOAS), which restricts the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
The South Korean government predicts that by 2025, photovoltaic waste will reach 1,222 tons, 2,645 tons in 2027, 6,796 tons in 2029, and 9,632 tons in 2032; as of the end of December 2021, the country’s installed solar capacity will reach approximately 22GW About 4.4GW of new photovoltaic installed capacity will be added in 2021; 30.8GW of solar power generation facilities will be installed by 2030.