Solar PV modules: Shining a light on end-of-life management for large-scale projects

The document outlines the legal obligations for solar PV producers in South Africa under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and a landfill ban on e-waste. It forecasts a significant increase in decommissioned solar PV modules starting in 2033, creating a long-term opportunity for reuse, refurbishment, and material recovery industries. While current e-waste aggregators exist, the report notes a lack of local closed-loop recycling for glass and solar cells, meaning recovered materials are currently exported.

• Solar PV developers acting as importers or brand owners are legally mandated to ensure decommissioned or damaged modules are returned to accredited and licensed facilities for repurposing or recycling.
• South African law prohibits the disposal of solar PV modules and related equipment in landfills, as they are classified as electrical and electronic waste (e-waste).
• Large-scale solar PV installed capacity in South Africa is projected to grow from approximately 2.36 GW in 2023 to approximately 11.35 GW by 2028.
• South Africa currently lacks the industrial capacity to recycle glass and solar cells into secondary materials for closed-loop use in new modules, resulting in the export of pre-processed recovered materials.
• Facilities intending to process 500kg or more of e-waste daily must obtain a waste management licence, which requires an environmental impact assessment.

APA

GreenCape (n.d.). Solar PV modules: Shining a light on end-of-life management for large-scale projects. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Solar-PV-waste.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Solar PV modules: Shining a light on end-of-life management for large-scale projects. n.d. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Solar-PV-waste.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Solar PV modules: Shining a light on end-of-life management for large-scale projects |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Solar-PV-waste.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencapendsolar, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Solar PV modules: Shining a light on end-of-life management for large-scale projects}}, institution = {GreenCape}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Solar-PV-waste.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }