Recycling Renewables: Giving Solar, Wind and Batteries a Second Life
- Sally Hunter
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
At Geni.Energy we are passionate about making sure the clean energy transition is as sustainable as possible. A common question we hear is: what happens to renewable energy technology at the end of its life?
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has just released fact sheets on recycling solar panels, wind turbines and batteries, which offer some great insights into how Australia can manage resources wisely and avoid unnecessary waste.
Solar panels: more than 95% recyclable
Solar panels typically last 25–30 years, and many keep producing energy well after their warranty. When they do reach end-of-life, around 95% of a panel can be recycled.
Glass and aluminium make up most of the panel and are already widely recycled.
Silicon, silver, copper and other critical minerals can be recovered and reused.
Recycled glass from solar is already finding its way into asphalt and building materials.
Australia is expected to have 1 million tonnes of end-of-life panels by 2035. That represents more than $1 billion in material value that could be reused rather than landfilled. The CEC notes that a national approach is being developed to scale up recycling facilities to meet this demand.
Wind turbines: repurposing and recycling
Wind turbines have a lifespan of 20–25 years. The good news is that 85–100% of a wind farm’s materials — including steel, copper and concrete — can be recycled in Australia, exceeding national waste recovery targets.
Blades are trickier because they are made from durable composite materials, but solutions are emerging. Overseas, blades have been turned into playgrounds, bridges and bus stops. In Australia, researchers are even testing ways to transform them into surfboards and sneakers. The wind industry is also moving towards zero-waste turbines by 2040.
Batteries: powering a circular economy
Lithium-ion batteries are essential for electric vehicles and household or community energy storage. They contain valuable minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese. Recycling allows up to 100% of components to be recovered and reused.
Battery recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions and cuts the need for new mining. With battery waste growing by 20% each year and forecast to exceed 136,000 tonnes by 2036, recycling is critical. Globally, regulations are already requiring high recovery rates — for example, the EU has mandated that at least 70% of lithium in spent batteries must be recycled by 2030.
Decommissioning and responsibility
The CEC fact sheet also makes it clear that project owners are responsible for decommissioning renewable energy infrastructure, including land rehabilitation. Contracts with landowners and planning approvals set out timelines and requirements, ensuring sites can return to their former use or be repowered with new equipment.
Importantly, unlike mining, renewable energy projects don’t “run out” of resource. The wind keeps blowing and the sun keeps shining, which reduces the risk of stranded assets.
Decommissioning and responsibility
The CEC fact sheet also makes it clear that project owners are responsible for decommissioning renewable energy infrastructure, including land rehabilitation. Contracts with landowners and planning approvals set out timelines and requirements, ensuring sites can return to their former use or be repowered with new equipment.
Importantly, unlike mining, renewable energy projects don’t “run out” of resource. The wind keeps blowing and the sun keeps shining, which reduces the risk of stranded assets.
Australia already sources more than 40% of its electricity from clean energy, and the CEC estimates the transition will deliver 66,000 jobs by 2030, alongside billions in payments to farmers and communities. Recycling and reuse are how we make sure these benefits flow all the way through the lifecycle of clean energy.
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