Australia's National Solar Panel Recycling Pilot: Administrator Sought for 3-Year Initiative - News and Statistics
Mar 28, 2026
Australia Launches National Solar Panel Recycling Pilot Program
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has initiated a search for an administrator to run a National Solar Panel Recycling Pilot, according to a report from PV-Tech. The selected administrator will be responsible for setting up about 100 collection points nationwide and managing the recycling of as many as 250,000 modules from various sources during the three-year initiative.
A tender for the role is currently available on AusTender and will close in late April, with an industry briefing set for early April. This action follows a government allocation of funds over three years to tackle the issue of solar waste. Official figures indicate that a minor portion of solar modules are presently recycled in the country, despite the potential for substantial economic benefits from material recovery.
With a large number of rooftop solar panels nearing the end of their usable life, the pilot is viewed as a necessary step to divert material from landfills. The administrator selection coincides with a key phase for the nation’s circular economy goals. The program aims to evaluate practical methods for gathering, moving, and processing retired solar modules, with specific attention to logistical and cost hurdles, such as expensive transportation from remote locations.
The tender launch follows policy developments over the previous year, including initial plans for a national scheme that were confirmed by federal, state, and territory governments. The effort responds to advocacy from industry groups, which called for mandated product stewardship for photovoltaic modules. It also builds upon a formal government assessment of solar waste management conducted earlier in the year, which stressed the need for coordinated national measures to avoid environmental harm and recover economic value.
The pilot will create collection systems in both city and remote areas, tackling a major obstacle to recycling: the cost-effectiveness of collection and logistics. Solar panels hold recoverable valuable materials that can be used again in renewable energy projects, decreasing the need for new raw materials. However, their size and weight often make transportation economically challenging.
The three-year duration of the pilot is intended to allow for thorough data gathering and program adjustments before any possible transition to a permanent nationwide system. The program will collaborate with state and territory authorities and incorporate insights from a Productivity Commission study on circular economy prospects. Projections suggest that future recycling needs will be significant, highlighting the urgency of developing workable collection and processing infrastructure.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
-
11. COUNTRY PROFILES
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO11.1
United States
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.2
China
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.3
Japan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.4
Germany
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.5
United Kingdom
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.6
France
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.7
Brazil
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.8
Italy
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.9
Russian Federation
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.10
India
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.11
Canada
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.12
Australia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.13
Republic of Korea
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.14
Spain
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.15
Mexico
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.16
Indonesia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.17
Netherlands
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.18
Turkey
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.19
Saudi Arabia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.20
Switzerland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.21
Sweden
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.22
Nigeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.23
Poland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.24
Belgium
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.25
Argentina
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.26
Norway
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.27
Austria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.28
Thailand
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.29
United Arab Emirates
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.30
Colombia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.31
Denmark
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.32
South Africa
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.33
Malaysia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.34
Israel
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.35
Singapore
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.36
Egypt
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.37
Philippines
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.38
Finland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.39
Chile
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.40
Ireland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.41
Pakistan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.42
Greece
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.43
Portugal
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.44
Kazakhstan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.45
Algeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.46
Czech Republic
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.47
Qatar
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.48
Peru
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.49
Romania
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.50
Vietnam
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2025
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Consumption, by Country, 2025
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, by Country, 2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)