Japan Solar Update: No.60 (Aug 28 ~ Sept 1, 2023)
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) held the fourth meeting of the Study Group on Disposal and Recycling of Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities and heard opinions from Energy Association for Sustainable Power supply (REASP), LONGI Solar Technology, Japan Wind Power Association, Japan Small Wind Turbines Association,and HANWA, etc.
The main topic at the previous meetings was PV modules but the Study Group discussed wind power generation this time. REASP expects that a large number of PV modules will be disposed of or recycled after the termination of the FIT program due to the termination of a land-lease contract and after the end of useful life of PV modules. In order to prioritize their disposal at the end of useful life, METI and MoE claimed that it will be effective to establish a new policy to disseminate facilities to adjust power supply and demand, etc. so that business operators can secure their power sales incomes. LONGI Solar Technology announced its efforts to provide information on contained materials as well as standardize the size of PV modules, etc. as the examples of appropriately disposing of used PV modules.
<Key points>
- Business operators and organizations, etc. reported the current status and issues of reuse, disposal, and recycling of renewable energy facilities
- REASP conducted a questionnaire survey and reported that 75% of power producers intended to continue operation after the termination of the FIT program and most of them do not consider selling their systems for reuse, etc.
- Proposed a draft measure to nurture the reuse market and pointed out the necessity of reducing the recycling cost through technical development support and considering the promotion of using recycled materials
- Requested support which enables excellent business operators to purchase abandoned projects for sound reuse
- LONGi Solar Technology reported the efforts of providing information relating to recycling
The Subcommittee held interviews on reuse, disposal, and recycling of PV and wind power generation facilities
| Name | Summary of iInterviews |
| Renewable Energy Association for Sustainable Power Supply (REASP) |
|
| LONGi Solar Technology | Provides information necessary for recycling such as data sheet on wastes and substances contained in PV modules, and also promotes the effort toward standardizing the size, etc. of PV modules as well as the development of the products suitable for long-term use, etc. |
| Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) | Reported various efforts by wind power producers such as reserve funds to cover the removal cost, O&M of wind power plants, disposal and recycling of each component, and also collected knowledge from overseas such as Europe and confirmed the necessity of developing domestic frameworks concerning reuse and recycling, etc. |
Furthermore, Japan Small Wind Turbines Association and Hirokou, etc. reported the disposal and recycling of wind power generation facilities.
The study group plans to discuss toward summarizing the points at issue in the next meeting.
Figure 1 Summary of interviews by the Study Group on Disposal and Recycling of Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities Source: Materials of the fourth meeting of the Study Group on Disposal and Recycling of Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities (July 18, 2023), compiled by RTS Corporation