Japan Solar Update: No.131 (Jan 13 ~ 17, 2025)
METI and MoE held the sixth joint meeting of the Working Group for PV Facility Recycling (METI) and the Subcommittee for PV Facility Recycling Scheme (MoE) and sorted out the burden of the cost for recycling, etc. As for the recycling of PV modules manufactured by overseas manufacturers, they consider that the cost will be borne by those who import PV modules. As for a countermeasure against abandoned PV modules, they will establish a mechanism that the demolition costs and recycling costs can be utilized when the demolition and removal are conducted by those other than the owners. They also explained the idea of establishing a certification scheme for business operators who can recycle used PV facilities with technology beyond a certain level.
In the discussion, based on the principles of “waste generators’ responsibility” on the business operators and “extended producer responsibility” on the producers, the WG presented a proposal of categorizing the costs on recycling into the cost for demolition, etc. and the cost for recycling, a proposal of limiting the target of mandatory recycling to PV modules, and so on.
<Key points>
- The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) held the sixth joint meeting and discussed that manufacturers are responsible for the recycling costs, and in the case of an overseas manufacturer, those who import the PV modules are required to bear the recycling costs
- It is a system in which the competent minister certifies businesses that are capable of recycling PV modules at above a certain level, and requires certified recycling businesses to take back and recycle PV modules
- The amount of recycling costs will be appropriately calculated after the framework of the system is compiled
Points of discussion on the disposal and recycling system for PV power generation equipment
Recycling
Entities and implementation systems requiring the recycling of PV modules
- In order to ensure that PV modules are handed over from dismantling and removal companies to recycling companies, each entity will be obliged to collect and deliver PV modules
- A system will be established for the competent minister to certify businesses that can collect PV modules over a wide area and recycle them at above a certain level
- It will be a system that requires certified recycling companies to collect PV modules and recycle them
How to bear the cost of recycling
- As a way of fulfilling the responsibility of the manufacturer, manufacturers are required to bear the cost of recycling
- In the case of an overseas manufacturer, those who import the PV modules by the manufacturer in question will be required to bear the cost of recycling from the business that imports the PV modules produced by the corporation
- In order to ensure the costs, the recycling cost will be paid to a third-party organization
- A system will be created that can guarantee the distribution of PV modules for which recycling costs have been paid
How to calculate recycling costs
The recycling cost is calculated by multiplying a fixed unit price by the quantity of PV modules manufactured or imported and sold
- As for the unit of the quantity , it is also considered to use “weight (kilograms)”
- To set a level that will be used to fund the future recycling of used PV modules (including those manufactured before the implementation of this system) that will be disposed after the implementation of this system, etc.
and so on
- There is a request from a trade association to specifically indicate the amount of recycling costs to be borne
- The Secretariat replied that it would like to make an appropriate calculation after compiling the framework of the system
How to receive grant for recycling costs
- The recipient of the grant for recycling cost shall be the owner of the facility, and the grant shall be subject to the submission of documents, etc. certifying the implementation of recycling
- As for the amount of the grant, a certain amount that has been calculated will be granted, instead of settling the actual amount
and so on
Source: Materials of the 6th Joint Meeting of the Working Group for PV Facility Recycling and the Subcommittee for PV Facility Recycling Scheme (November 21, 2024), compiled by RTS Corporation