About us
Transforming Australia’s PV Recycling Industry
The ARC Hub for PV Recycling and Sustainability (PVRS) is a national research initiative addressing the urgent challenge of managing end-of-life solar panels. As solar energy deployment accelerates globally, our mission is to develop innovative, scalable, and sustainable technologies that enable a truly circular solar economy. Through five interconnected research themes, including advanced recycling processes, safe waste treatment, value-added reuse of recovered materials, policy and standards development, and future-ready solar panel design, we aim to transform solar waste into valuable resources. Led by a multidisciplinary team across UNSW, Swinburne, UQ, UTS, and other partners, the ARC Hub PVRS integrates engineering, environmental science, and policy to deliver impactful solutions for industry and the planet.
Our Aim
The Hub aims to transform Australia’s photovoltaic (PV) solar panel recycling industry by developing advanced technologies of green PV recycling and materials reuse, redesigning PV panels for recycling and reliability and advancing policy informing by leveraging interdisciplinary expertise and collaborations across the value chain. It directly addresses Australia's National Net-Zero Plan and Waste Action Plan.
Our Challenge
The massive deployment of PV solar panels is critical for achieving global and Australia’s Net Zero 2050 targets. However, without effective end-of-life recycling, these panels risk overwhelming landfills, leading to environmental hazards and wasting valuable materials.
Our Mission
Our mission is to revolutionise the PV industry by developing advanced, scalable, and eco-friendly recycling technologies that transform end-of-life solar panels into valuable resources, driving Australia towards zero PV waste and a sustainable, profitable circular economy.