South Korea moves ahead with long-awaited solar panel recycling program – pv magazine International

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) approved a long-awaited solar module recycling program at Prime Minister Han Duk-soo’s recent ministerial meeting.

The new regulations establish a standard collection system major regions of the country. Its goal is to ensure a recycling/reuse rate of more than 80% of waste panels within three years, which is in line with the current EU level. The plan also lays the groundwork for the establishment of the department’s statistical system.

The scheme is designed to encourage the reuse of solar modules before recycling options become a final option.it will also Introduction of certification under the framework of the Ecological Assurance System (ECOAS), which restricts the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The South Korean government said it expects to generate 1,222 tons of solar module waste by 2025, 2,645 tons by 2027, 6,796 tons by 2029 and 9,632 tons by 2032. As of the end of December 2021, the country’s installed solar capacity is about 22 GW. In 2021, the newly installed photovoltaic capacity will be about 4.4 GW.

South Korea plans to install 30.8 GW of solar by 2030.