Scrapped Solar Panels Pose Serious Environmental Risk

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Controversy is looming over potential risk of environmental damage as there aren’t enough facilities in South Korea to recycle old solar panels despite government efforts to expand the use of solar energy.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment reported that the amount of scrapped solar panels is expected to reach 23,292 tons by 2025 and 82,029 tons by 2040.

However, only one company in the country’s private sector is capable of recycling scrapped solar panels, and is only capable of processing up to 3,600 tons each year.

Other solar panels are currently being buried in landfill.

The National Institute of Environmental Research reported that heavy metals found in solar panels, such as copper and lead, exceeded safety levels by 275 times and 50 times, respectively.

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