The Solar Photovoltaic Systems Recovery, Reuse, and Recycling Working Group

Created by the Climate Solutions Now Act in 2022, The Photovoltaic Systems (PV) Working Group will focus on options for recycling or reusing solar panels.​

The Working Group shall: 
  • ​​Review solar photovoltaic systems currently used in the state, including: 
    • ​Examining the expected economically productive life cycle of the systems; 
    • Reviewing the materials that are used, have been used, or may be used in PV systems sold in the state, 
      • ​​​including identifying materials that can be recycled or that exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste under state or federal law; and
    • ​​Identifying the number of solar photovoltaic systems in use and estimating the potential impacts of the state's landfill capacity of disposing the systems in the state's landfills. 
  • Review other programs on PV systems recycling, disposal, and decommissioning. 
  • Identify ongoing and recent studies related to solar photovoltaic systems recycling, life-cycle analysis, and end-of-life programs. 
  • Review industry-approved best practices for mananging end-of-life solar photovoltaic systems and their components, including the extent to which the systems and components may be:
    • ​if not substantially damaged, refurbished and reused for a similar purpose; ​
    • recycled and the components recovered for reuse;
    • for components that do not exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste under state or federal law, safely disposed of in a construction and demolition or municipal solid waste landfill; and
    • ​for components that exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste under state or federal law, safely disposed of in accordance with state and federal requirements;  
  • Perform an economic analysis to determine the potential impact of solar photovoltaic systems recovery, reuse, and recycling n ratepayers, including a comparison to the economic impact on ratepayers of decommissioning, storing waste, and other costs associated with the end of life of other forms of energy generation; 
  • ​Perform an impact assessment to examine the environmental impacts of various PV systems' end-of-life scenarios, including the scenarios specified under item 4 of this subsection, compared to the life-cycle environmental impacts of non-solar energy generation sources in the state, including the environmental impacts of decommissioning, disposal, and long-term waste storage; 
  • Perform an impact assessment to examine the environmental and economic benefits of generating energy from PV systems, including a comparison to the environmen​tal and economic benefits of nonsolar energy generation sources in the state; 
  • Recommend financing mechanisms analyzed under item 9 of this subsection that best support a circular economy approach.   
  • Analyze whether financing mechanisms, including advance recovery fees, recycling and disposal fees, and product stewardship programs are necessary to ensure proper end-of-life management of solar photovoltaic systems; and 
  • Examine and recommend infrastructure needed to develop a practical, effective, and cost-efficient method for collecting and transporting end-of-life solar photovoltaic modules for reuse, refurbishment, recycling, or disposal.
In accordance with § 2–1257 of the state government article the Working Group shall report its findings and recommnedation to the Commissio and the General Assembly on or vefore December 31, 2023. 

THIS WORKING GROUP AND THIS WEBPAGE ARE UNDER CONSTUCTION WINTER 2023

​Contact: Susan.Casey1@maryland.gov 








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