How NSW Government Agencies can achieve the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 (WaSM) targets with Circular Solar Projects

The NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 (WaSM) sets an ambitious roadmap for government agencies to transition towards a circular economy. With targets like reducing waste, phasing out problematic plastics, and significantly increasing the use of recycled materials, the role of NSW Government agencies is pivotal in making this vision a reality.

One key area where agencies can make a substantial impact is through their approach to energy infrastructure. As part of the WaSM, agencies are required to prefer recycled content in purchasing, on an ‘if not, why not’ basis and adopt innovative solutions that support the broader objectives of the strategy. Enter circular solar energy systems—a powerful solution that can help agencies meet both waste reduction and renewable energy targets.

Why Circular Solar Solutions?

Solar energy is already an essential part of New South Wales’ plan to reduce emissions and move away from reliance on fossil fuels. But there’s a way to take solar even further: by incorporating circular solar into your circular economy action plans. The concept of “circular solar” is about incorporating circularity into your solar projects from circular economy actions in design to giving solar panels a second life rather than sending them to landfill.

Our company recently managed a project to build Australia’s largest demonstration of a commercial solar system using 100% reused solar panels that had been recovered from a number of NSW Government agency buildings including Schools Infrastructure NSW and the NSW Department of Housing Planning and Infrastructure, showcasing how effective and sustainable this solution can be. By using reused panels, agencies can not only meet their renewable energy goals but also contribute to waste reduction efforts outlined in WaSM.

RELATED: Australia’s Largest Solar Energy Project Using 100% Reused Panels

Second Life Solar Built on NSW Developed Technology

To activate the reuse market, with the support of the NSW EPA’s Circular Solar program, our Newcastle based team developed a game-changing solution: affordable, scalable testing for old solar panels. The PV Rapid Test Rig, developed in collaboration with the CSIRO Energy Division in Newcastle NSW is an innovative mobile rig that tests a solar panel’s electrical and mechanical condition in under 60 seconds—and at a cost of just a few dollars.

Traditional testing technology in the solar industry costs millions. Our NSW developed technology, however, offers a low-cost alternative, unlocking the potential for solar panel reuse on a massive scale. This is a huge leap forward in making solar energy both circular and economically viable.

How Circular Solar Solutions Align with WaSM Goals

Reducing Waste: By reusing solar panels, we are keeping valuable materials out of landfills. This aligns with the strategy’s aim to reduce total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030 and increase the recovery rate from all waste streams. Solar panels that still have years of life left are often discarded. By repurposing them, agencies can help reduce overall waste.

Prefer Recycled Content: One of the key reforms in the WaSM is encouraging government agencies to prefer products made from recycled materials. Solar systems using reused panels directly contribute to this requirement, helping agencies support the circular economy and leading by example for industries and the private sector.

Less Emissions, More Jobs: Reused solar panels are just as effective as new ones, but with a much lower carbon footprint due to reduced manufacturing emissions. Plus, adopting circular solutions can support local jobs in solar panel refurbishment, installation, and maintenance.

Innovating for the Future: The transition to a circular economy encourages innovation, and circular solar energy systems are a perfect example of this. By rethinking how we source and use materials, agencies can help foster a culture of sustainability and innovation across the state.

RELATED: 4 Ways to Integrate Circular Economy Principles into Your Solar Energy Project

How to Integrate Circularity into your Solar Projects

Decommission Old Systems the Right Way

In many case solar panels need to be removed well before the end of their service life due to things like roof repairs, building renovations or even simply the end of a lease for Government tenants.

If your solar system is less than 10 years old, make sure you engage a suitable contractor to decommission and recover the panels for testing and reuse.  This is exactly what Albury Council, School Infrastructure NSW, and the NSW Department of Housing, Planning and Infrastructure did when they had young solar systems that needed to be removed.  These systems are now generating renewable energy in Australia’s largest rooftop solar system using 100% reused panels in Wagga Wagga NSW (see below for details).

Design for Reuse or integrate Reused Panels

Designing for reuse is at the core of the circular economy. Solar panels are designed to last 25-30 years but sometimes things happen that mean the solar system needs to be removed early. This might be changes to the building, a roof repair etc.

Solar systems can be designed with components that are easily disassembled and reused. We partner with the team from Solpod to design solar systems for easy removal and relocation like this 100kW solar system installed on the headquarters for Google Australia in Sydney.

Alternatively, consider incorporating used or refurbished solar panels into your system. With advancements in technology, many pre-owned panels still offer excellent efficiency and you can achieve high circularity outcomes by incorporating them into your solar systems.  You can incorporate a small percentage of reused panels if you are not ready to go fully circular yet, all the way to 100% reused.

Our team did exactly this with Kurrajong Recycling in Wagga Wagga who installed a 100kW solar system in July 2024 consisting of 100% reused solar panels that were otherwise destined for landfill. The best part was that this system cost $0 up front to install for the customer (contact us to find out how).

Reusable and Redeployable Solar for Temporary Power and Remote Sites

NSW Government agencies are responsible for significant infrastructure and construction projects, many of which use diesel generators for site power, temporary power requirements or even standby power.

Now you can say goodbye to the noise, fumes, and high costs of diesel generators. Our state-of-the-art mobile solar energy system is the next generation of power for mines, construction sites, and solar farms is circular by design.

Designed for ultimate efficiency, this containerized solution can be rapidly deployed to even the most remote locations, providing instant access to clean, renewable energy.

Equipped with integrated battery storage, our mobile solar system ensures a steady supply of power, day or night. And for those times when the sun isn’t shining, a built-in standby diesel generator guarantees uninterrupted energy, so your operations never miss a beat.

RELATED: Four Low-Carbon Alternatives to Diesel Generators

But the real advantage? Our mobile solar energy system can generates power at much lower cost than traditional diesel generators. That’s not just good for the environment—it’s great for your bottom line.

Whether you’re looking to reduce operational costs, minimise environmental impact, or simply need a reliable energy source in challenging locations, our mobile solar solution is the perfect fit to meet the WaSM targets for infrastructure and construction projects.

Embrace the future of energy today with a solution that moves with your projects, delivering powerful results wherever you go.

Have a Recycling Plan for End-of-Life Panels

Finally, it’s important to plan for the end-of-life stage of your solar panels. Many of the materials in solar panels, like silicon, glass, and metals, can be recycled. We partner with recycling facilities to ensure that when your system eventually reaches the end of its life, it doesn’t contribute to landfills.

Making the Switch to Circular Solar

NSW Government agencies have the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable change. Circular solar solutions offer a practical and impactful way to meet WaSM’s targets while continuing to deliver reliable, clean energy. Our team is ready to help agencies explore and implement these solutions.

By choosing circular solar systems that use reused panels, agencies can significantly contribute to reducing waste, cutting emissions, and building a more sustainable future for New South Wales—without compromising on performance.

If you’re looking to align with the WaSM objectives, now is the time to consider circular solar solutions for your next energy project.

Let’s make sustainability work for the planet, for the economy, and for the people of NSW.

Need help developing a circular solar action plan?  Our consulting services can help including providing you the evidence to report on your solar systems circularity using ISO59020:2024.