In order to promote sustainable practices in the solar industry, SolarPower Europe has released a detailed report on end-of-life management of solar panels, on which over 30 expert contributors to SolarPower Europe's Lifecycle Quality Workstream have collaborated.

The report, provides comprehensive guidance on how solar companies can meet the mandatory requirements at this critical stage of the solar panel lifecycle and further highlights the industry-led nature of SolarPower Europe's Best Practice Guidelines, bringing together the knowledge and experience of leading companies in operation and maintenance (O&M) services, recycling, circularity, waste management, utilities and manufacturers.

The guidelines in this report cover the utility, commercial and industrial, and residential segments, providing a comprehensive approach to sustainable end-of-life management of solar panels.

The value proposition of the report is based on the identification of high-level requirements, with an emphasis on implementation in Europe, and highlights the importance of considering differences in the transposition of EU directives into national legislation in the Member States.

The content of the report is structured into technical and non-technical requirements, classified into three categories:

1. Minimum Requirements: these are those below which the waste management approach fails to comply with the relevant EU legislation.

2. Best Practices: These refer to state-of-the-art methods that balance technical and financial aspects, considered as optimal to obtain results.

3. Recommendations: They can increase the quality of service, but their implementation depends on considerations of the asset owner, such as available budget and services offered by the original equipment manufacturer.

The differentiation between these categories is established through the use of verbs such as "should", indicating minimum requirements, and phrases such as "as best practice" or "as a recommendation".

This report represents a significant step towards sustainability in the solar industry, providing clear guidance for companies seeking to effectively address the end-of-life of solar panels in a responsible and efficient manner.