On 4^th March 2020, the European Commission announced that Europe will plan to be climate neutral (net-zero greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050. Europe’s energy market will decarbonize into a renewable energy market where solar, hydro and wind energy provide most of Europe’s energy demands. Similar efforts are being made in London, where the Mayor has committed for London to be a zero carbon city by 2050. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has also forecasted that solar energy will be the main driver of growth in global electricity over the next decade with the onshore and offshore wind taking second and third place, respectively. All of these are good news but since solar and wind power are relatively young technologies, there exists a real concern of waste- often overlooked. What happens when the renewable energy generators reach the end of their lifetime and is there a way to recycle solar photo-voltaic (PV) modules and wind turbines?

Continue reading “Do you know the dark side of renewable energy?”