Community Engagement in Renewable Disposal
On 4th May, Armidale will host a community event focused on the recycling and disposal of solar panels at the end of their lifecycle. ‘Closing the Loop: Recycling Solar in the New England’ is set to take place at NOVA, 122 Faulkner St, Armidale from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm.n
Sustainable practices for managing renewable energy infrastructure, including rooftop solar panels and large-scale solar farms, will be at the forefront of discussions. Regional communities will have the opportunity to learn about recycling and reusing renewable technologies.n
Trevor Brown, convenor of Electrify Armidale, emphasised the need for communities to consider the entire lifecycle of renewable energy technologies. He stated, “Communities are rightly focused on the benefits of renewable energy, but we also need to think about the full lifecycle of these technologies.”n
Electrify Armidale’s event will address several key issues, such as the reuse and responsible disposal of renewable energy infrastructure. This includes components from wind farms, although the primary focus is on solar panels. As more solar panels and batteries are deployed, understanding their end-of-life options becomes crucial.n
Insights from Industry Expertsn
Guado Lado, Manager Regional Waste at Armidale Regional Council, Dr Kas Gregory, Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of New England, Dr Megan Kessler, Policy Director at RE-Alliance, and Darren Johannesen, Executive General Manager of Sustainability at the Smart Energy Council, will speak at the event. Discussions will include the potential for a solar panel recycling hub in the New England region.n
According to Trevor Brown, establishing a local recycling hub could mitigate transportation issues and foster a circular economy. “That would help reduce transport barriers, support a regional circular economy, and make it easier to deal responsibly with end-of-life solar panels closer to where they are used,” he explained.n
Supported by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, the event is a collaboration between Sustainable Living Armidale, Electrify Armidale, Community Power Agency, and the UNE SMART Region Incubator. Registration is essential for this free event, and interested participants can sign up at events.humanitix.com/closing-the-loop.n
The event will also explore what ‘retirement age renewables’ means for regional communities. There is a growing interest in whether New England could become home to a solar panel recycling hub.n
As renewable technologies continue to advance, the importance of sustainable disposal practices grows. Armidale’s upcoming event aims to provide valuable insights and solutions to ensure regional Australia remains at the forefront of renewable energy management.
