Opinion column by Eduardo Schott. Researcher at SERC Chile - UC

The boom in solar energy has been key to Chile’s energy transition, but alongside this significant progress, there is a risk that we could become a graveyard for photovoltaic panels. Pollution resulting from solar panel waste is an emerging challenge in Chile, given the exponential increase in their use in photovoltaic projects, especially in the north of the country, where we have the strongest solar radiation in the world.

With more than 12.5 million modules installed and a projection forecasting 500,000 metric tons of waste by 2030—peaking at 120,000 metric tons in 2046—according to figures from the RIGK and In-Data report, the accumulation of waste in the northern part of the country threatens to turn the desert into a high-tech landfill. This challenge—which combines innovation, sustainability, and responsibility—presents an opportunity for academia, industry, and the government to collaborate on solutions that close the life cycle of solar technology, preventing a green project from becoming an environmental problem.

The panels have a lifespan of around 30 years and are made of materials such as silicon, aluminum, glass, and heavy metals—including lead, cadmium, and tellurium—which, if not properly managed, can release toxic substances into the soil and water, affecting ecosystems and human health. The accumulation of this waste, especially in the Atacama Desert, poses an environmental risk, as its natural degradation process is not fully understood.

Currently, Chile faces significant challenges in managing this waste due to the lack of a robust recycling infrastructure. Discarded panels often end up in landfills or desert areas. In other countries, this waste is classified as hazardous waste. The Extended Producer Responsibility Act (REP Act), enacted in 2016, seeks to address this problem by including solar panels as priority products and requiring manufacturers and importers to take responsibility for waste management. However, current regulations do not clearly specify recycling or final disposal procedures, leaving the responsibility to individual company initiatives, which limits their effectiveness. Thus, it is necessary to incentivize the recycling of these technologies, which are taking up vast areas of our desert.

Despite these shortcomings, initiatives are being implemented to mitigate the environmental impact. Some proposals promote a circular economy, such as “urban mining,” which seeks to recover valuable materials (silicon, aluminum, copper) from discarded panels, with the potential to generate economic benefits of up to US$29 million and 6,700 jobs in the first few years. In addition, options are being explored to reuse panels that are still functional in smaller-scale applications, such as street lighting or residential buildings, although the fragility of photovoltaic cells limits this practice. Companies and associations are beginning to develop recycling processes that include disassembly, component separation, and treatment of toxic materials, but there are still no large-scale recycling plants in our country. Developing these capabilities requires effective public-private collaboration, in which the government takes the lead with clear policies, companies invest in technology, and universities contribute cutting-edge knowledge.

To strengthen the management of photovoltaic waste, Chile needs to make progress on more specific public policies and the creation of specialized infrastructure. The Ministry of the Environment is working on regulations to govern the management of electronic waste, including solar panels, under the REP Law, with discussions planned to establish recovery targets. However, this is still not enough. Designing solar panels to be more recyclable from the outset is a technical and ethical challenge that must be addressed by academia and industry, with a view toward a just transition that leaves no environmental liabilities.

Meanwhile, public education and awareness regarding the importance of choosing manufacturers with recycling programs are crucial for minimizing the environmental impact and capitalizing on the economic opportunities offered by sustainable solar waste management.