Study to consider solar panel recycling

Concern over scrapped solar panels that are accumulating in the country, potentially posing a grave risk, has convinced SCG Eco Services to conduct a study on an electronic waste recycling project.

- YUTHANA PRAIWAN

The increase in discarded solar panels from solar farm operators is the result of a sharp reduction in their capacity to convert sunlight into electricity, said Chalong Limsutrakul, deputy director for waste circularity at SCG Eco Services, the industrial waste management arm of Siam Cement Group (SCG), Thailand's largest cement maker and industrial conglomerate.

“Firms granted concessions to run solar power plants 6-7 years ago now find the solar panels' efficiency has reduced by half,” he said.

“This led many of these companies to buy new, more efficient solar panels, said Mr Chalong.

A modern solar panel can generate 400-500 watts of electricity, compared with 200 watts produced by a panel based on older technology. The price per panel is also cheaper for newer models.