Africa’s solar boom risks becoming a waste crisis

From the newsletter

As solar energy adoption accelerates across Africa, a new study in Ghana warns of a looming waste crisis. Without clear end-of-life policies and recycling systems, discarded solar panels could pose major environmental risks, undermine the continent’s sustainability goals and expose a critical gap in its green energy transition.

• The study quantifies a projected solar waste stream of 324,000 kg in Ghana by 2060, highlighting a pattern likely to emerge across Africa as solar adoption rises, bringing with it the growing burden of managing end-of-life photovoltaic modules.

• Africa lacks the infrastructure to respond to the new waste burden. Solar PV remains requires specialised recycling, but informal or weakly regulated systems across the continent limit safe material recovery, raising environmental risks.

More details

• Published in the International Journal of Green Energy, the study by scholars from Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology estimates that the country could recover up to $4 million from solar photovoltaic (PV) waste if proactive recycling and material recovery strategies are implemented.

• The waste projection is based on installations between 2013 and 2021 and expected growth through 2030. As Ghana expands its solar footprint, mirroring a broader African trend driven by affordability, modularity and climate goals, the study warns that waste is accumulating faster than solutions.

• Though focused on Ghana, the research exposes a continent-wide blind spot: the absence of planning for when panels reach the end of their life cycle. Without early policy action, African nations risk turning a renewable energy success into an environmental liability.

• The continent holds immense solar potential. The International Energy Agency estimates that Africa has 60% of the world’s best solar resources, which the World Bank describes as a “unique opportunity” to deliver clean, affordable electricity to underserved populations. The World Economic Forum also notes that Africa consistently exceeds global benchmarks for excellent solar generation conditions. But this opportunity brings new responsibilities, chief among them, managing the growing burden of solar panel waste.

• Solar panels contain a mix of glass, polymers and trace metals like silver, lead and cadmium. Recycling these materials safely and efficiently requires specialised technology and infrastructure that remain scarce across much of Africa. Where waste systems do exist, they are often informal or poorly regulated, raising the risk of environmental contamination, health hazards and the loss of valuable materials.

• Across the continent, the total value of reclaimable materials is likely to be far higher. Yet most African countries lack national policies to guide end-of-life management for solar modules. Instruments such as extended producer responsibility (EPR), product take-back schemes or design-for-recycling standards are either absent or remain unimplemented.

• In parallel, Africa’s solar manufacturing base is beginning to grow. Egypt leads the charge, hosting large-scale PV production, while South Africa’s Northern Cape has positioned itself as a hub for advanced solar assembly. This presents a strategic opportunity to embed circular economy principles into solar manufacturing and design, ensuring that new panels are easier to repair, disassemble and recycle from the outset.

• But scaling circular systems will require more than good intentions. Financing for end-of-life solar management remains minimal, as most climate and infrastructure funds prioritise installation and access over lifecycle planning. Development finance institutions and green energy funds must expand their scope to include circularity, supporting solar waste collection, recycling infrastructure and industrial innovation in material recovery.

• There is also an urgent need to address data gaps. Few African countries maintain registries of installed solar assets, meaning governments and recyclers have little visibility on when, where and how much solar waste to expect. Introducing digital tracking systems, product passports or mandatory registration for commercial solar installations could improve planning and reduce future costs.

• Additionally, many PV systems in Africa are imported, yet few manufacturer responsibility schemes are in place. Policymakers could consider bilateral agreements, import standards or international EPR mechanisms that require global producers to contribute to local waste management systems, especially in low-capacity regions.

Our take

• Solar PV waste doesn’t have to be a crisis-in-waiting. With the right policies and investment, it can fuel green industries, create local jobs and secure sustainable material supply chains across Africa.
  

• Africa’s solar revolution must be matched with a circular vision. Governments and industry must plan for what happens at the end of a panel’s life, embedding recovery and reuse into national energy strategies.
  

• Circularity must be central to Africa’s energy transition. Building end-of-life infrastructure from the outset will transform a growing waste challenge into an opportunity for innovation, resilience and long-term sustainability.