Solar cells have grown exponentially over the past decade, which could create ripple effects in developing countries. Due to technological advancements, newly implemented environmental goals, and panels that decrease in performance after long-term use, it is often unavoidable to replace solar cells. In an opinion piece from Bloomberg, and with the International Renewable Energy Agency as the primary source, it is predicted that as much as 78 million tons of solar cells will be consumed worldwide by 2050 - and this is considered a significant understatement as prices fall.
It is now predicted that more and more used panels will end up in poorer countries and that it could potentially become a second-hand market worth many billions.
Many second-hand deals take place online
Between 2010 and 2019, the number of people living without electricity decreased from 1.2 billion to 759 million worldwide. One of the reasons is that more and more people are getting smaller solar cell systems, without connection to a fixed grid, in their homes or villages. No one yet knows how much a second-hand market for solar panels has generated today, as most deals today take place in the shadows, often online through, for example, Facebook. But Laid Sahraoui, owner of Hong Kong-based solar cell company R3 Tech, guesses to Bloomberg that there are 10 million used panels in the existing global market - and he himself calls that figure "pessimistic."
