Since the introduction of solar PV subsidies in 2010, the UK has rapidly increased the deployment of solar PV, culminating in 13.9GWs of peak solar generation by April 2022. This is the equivalent of approximately 56 million solar panels now in operation.

Like all technology, from time-to-time, solar panels develop faults. When this happens, the default action by solar generators is for modules to be discarded into the waste stream, because options for reuse or repair are not available.

This is despite part 5 of the Waste Regulations 2011 stating that dealers and brokers responsible for the transfer of waste must apply the waste hierarchy in the following order: i) prevention, ii) preparing for re-use, iii) recycling, iv) recovery, v) disposal.

The embodied carbon of producing and transporting a solar panel is estimated to be between 1-3 years. Therefore, for solar panels to have maximum impact on mitigating the climate emergency, it is critical they are kept generating green electricity for as long as possible.

In response to this gap in the market, ReSolar was founded in 2020 as the UK’s first organisation dedicated to R&D into understanding the types of faults better, and finding cost-effective, innovative solutions to repair and reuse faulty solar panels.

By intervening in the waste stream, ReSolar’s services and products facilitate the supply of affordable second-hand panels to be supplied to communities and households seeking to reduce their reliance on the National Grid, and avoid soaring energy bills.

Working with our fantastic partners, ReSolar is developing innovative solutions to implement the waste hierarchy into the solar industry, and develop a model of circularity to revolutionise the way the industry operates.