You would think that powering your site with solar power generators is about as green as it gets. They harness the sun’s energy to create free electricity, which can power everything from site lighting to electric vehicles and plant. This cuts down on fossil fuel use and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Sounds like a winner all round, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately, solar panels only have a maximum lifespan of 20-25years before they need to be replaced, and many are replaced long before this as they become less effective and newer, more efficient models become available. And what happens to these discarded panels after that, is starting to seriously concern environmental experts.

A mountain of solar panel waste

Solar panels are starting to be used in vast numbers, both domestically and in industrial situations. Solar power increased by a massive 22% across the globe in 2021 alone, and it’s estimated that 13,000 solar panels are fitted in Britain every month. This is all well and good for the environment right now, but it will create a potential disaster in a couple of decades time.

Experts warn that we could be facing a mountain of used solar panels by 2050, with as much as 200million tonnes of waste. That’s over half the weight of the world’s total plastic production. Yet because solar panel waste has not been an issue up to now, the techniques and technology that are needed to recycle them have not been widely developed. The race is now on to have the facilities in place ready for the impending avalanche of redundant solar panels that is to come.

Reclaiming the precious materials

As well as aluminium for the frames and glass for the surfaces, solar panels also contain small amounts of precious metals such as silver, copper and silicon. While the glass cannot be reused in new solar panels, these metals are not only a vital component, but are also in very short supply, with silver especially scarce. Apart from the issue of waste, without recycling, we simply won’t have enough of the raw materials we need to meet global demand for new solar panels.

Hiring solar power generators maximises use

Currently there is just one factory in the world that can cost-effectively recycle solar panels – the ROSI plant in Grenoble, France, which comes online this summer. However, there is another way that you can help reduce the environmental impact of used solar panels, and that is to hire them instead of buying.

Hiring solar power generators from Think Hire ensures that each panel gets maximum use. Instead of sitting at your depot in between projects, it can come back to us to be used elsewhere. What’s more, because each one of our customers doesn’t have to buy their own, the overall number of solar panels needed to service industries such as construction, road and rail projects and home building is significantly reduced.

“The rental model makes a huge difference to the sustainability of solar power generators,” explains Think Hire managing director, Neil Richardson. “Working with Think Hire, our customers can enjoy the very latest, most efficient renewable technology, without creating endless waste through redundant solar panels.

“When the time comes, it’s Think Hire who will be responsible for dealing with the panels on the solar power generators that customers have hired out. Naturally, as in all other areas of our business, we will aim to do this in the most environmentally friendly way that we can.”

To find out more about how you can use solar power generators in your next project, and how Think Hire can help you to not only cut costs and emissions, but also reduce the volume of waste solar panels in the future, get in touch with our team today.