Two producer responsibility organisations (PROs) are working together to devise a solution to the disposal of used solar panels in South Africa.

South African PRO Circular Energy and PV Cycle, a Europe-based compliance adviser,  are working to establish benchmarks to dispose of end-of-life solar PV panels for the burgeoning solar PV market, which saw the import of ZAR17.5 billion worth of solar panels in 2023.

ESI Africa reports that the organisations plan to get feedback from manufacturers, importers, policymakers, installers and consumers.

A range of initiatives, including workshops, webinars and information campaigns, will be rolled out to encourage role players to adopt the measures in line with extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations, which came into being in South Africa in May 2021 for the plastic and paper packaging industry.

‘The objective is to level the playing field for all companies, placing PV panels and energy storage systems for the first time on South Africa territory within the context of  the EPR regulations of 2020,’ said Circular Energy.

25 June 2024
Image: Freepik