The abundance of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of Italy, thanks also to the benefits of the Superbonus, has partly overlooked the problem of disposal at the end of their life. A solar panel lasts on average 20-25 years. It requires minimal maintenance and guarantees good electrical performance.
However, those who have posed the problem of dismantling in the years to come or replacing older panels today have often been confused.
The European Parliament and the Council of Europe wanted to clarify with an agreement that applies a ruling from the Court of Justice of the EU. The point of the agreement, for the benefit of all panels installed in EU countries, is retroactivity of disposal.
The Court in 2022 had established is the costs of managing and disposing of waste from photovoltaic panels sold after 13 August 2012 were borne by the manufacturer.
This is by virtue of the Extended Producer Responsibility Directive for all electrical and electronic equipment. The large manufacturing chains cannot remain outside the waste recovery system to protect the environment. The impacts are real and result in excellent profits.
It seemed strange that the panels were excluded from the large family of those devices which, not only with the Italian Superbonus, were strongly incentivized. Which are strategic elements for the energy transition and risked not being managed according to principles of the circular economy.
Go ahead with the recycling of materials
The agreement reached in Brussels, in other words, also applies the Rep, the panels Extended manufacturer responsibility. Once dismantled, the panels are taken to authorized disposal centers and through careful dismantling, the components are recovered and recycled. Rare materials that lower producers' costs and benefit the circularity of production. Anyone who has installed and used them on their home can rest assured. But….
According to the Agency Handle, in fact, the agreement also contains a review clause by 2026 of the directive, now integrated. Three years of tests are not a few and cannot induce private citizens the doubt of a disposal (if any) at your own expense. If companies refuse to respect the rules, will the individual citizen who invested in solar have to pay?
