04 Aug 2023
The Clean Energy Council provided feedback to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)’s public proposal on regulatory approach to product stewardship for electrical/electronic-products (e-products), solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and small electrical and electronic equipment (SEEE). The CEC and its members are largely supportive of DCCEEW’s proposed model for establishing a recycling stewardship scheme with some amendments that are outlined below.
The CEC and its members support a scheme that is dedicated to solar PV waste, insofar as market failures exist. The submission focused on consumer energy resources in terms of its inclusion in a regulated product stewardship scheme. At the outset, we noted that the products included in solar PV waste scheme are fundamentally different in nature and composition, and therefore the scheme should incorporate a specific and distinct focus on the recycling needs and context of the different products. Recycling of solar PV panels represents a significant market failure and requires government intervention to assist in managing the solar PV panel waste. Other components of solar PV systems – such batteries – are currently being managed by industry and so the CEC recommended not including home energy storage batteries in the scheme.
Interested in contributing to similar work?
Make yourself heard and ensure your organisation is well placed to benefit from the growing clean energy industry. Join hundreds of companies as a member of the Clean Energy Council.
In the news
Latest news
Read the latest updates from the Clean Energy Council and across the industry.
18 Nov 2024
Billions in the bush: Renewable energy for regional prosperity
Large-scale renewable energy projects are estimated to deliver $1 billion to farmers and $200 million to regional communities by 2030, according to our new report with Farmers for Climate Action.
14 Nov 2024
Rooftop solar shines bright as Australia surpasses four million installations
Australia has cemented its status as a world leader in rooftop solar, surpassing a remarkable milestone of four million rooftop solar installations across the country and slashing Aussie energy bills.
12 Nov 2024
New NSW planning guidelines a positive step for renewable energy
The Clean Energy Council welcomes today’s release of updated NSW planning guidelines for renewable energy projects.
11 Nov 2024
A strong quarter for new investment in renewable energy and storage
Over 1400 MW of new large-scale renewable energy generation projects, worth $3.3 billion in new investment, were committed in the third quarter of 2024, according to the Clean Energy Council’s latest Quarterly Renewables Report.
31 Oct 2024
Clean Energy Regulator announces Clean Energy Council as small-scale product listing body
The Clean Energy Council, the peak body for Australia’s renewable energy sector, welcomes today’s appointment by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) as the product assurance body for small-scale renewables, including solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and inverters.
28 Oct 2024
Queensland's clean energy rollout key to a strong economy
The Clean Energy Council congratulates David Crisafulli and the Liberal National Party on their victory at the Queensland state election over the weekend.