Dutch Solarge bets on sustainability to take on Chinese solar panels

These days, most solar panel manufacturers guarantee that their products keep operating at near-optimal productivity for 25-30 years. That’s quite an achievement when you think about it. How many electrical devices spend up to three decades outdoors, exposed to sun, rain and storm, without breaking down? That’s some impressive packaging! As it turns out, however, this lifespan-enhancing wrapping comes at a cost: recyclability. For as impressive as the lifespan of solar cells is, they don’t last forever.

Apart from the silicon cells, solar modules primarily consist of glass, plastic and aluminum. These three materials are all routinely recycled. Yet, this happens not nearly as much as you’d expect from an industry that prides itself on sustainability.