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National News Australia

Solar industry feeling the heat over disposal of 80 million panels

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Solar industry feeling the heat over disposal of 80 million panels

The renewable energy sector is facing a quandary: how Australia will dispose of 80 million solar panels in an environmentally friendly way when they reach the end of their life.

Paradoxically, one of the reasons people are installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in huge numbers is to help the environment, but the industry is now grappling with the anticipated waste generated by 100,000 tonnes of panels due to be dismantled in Australia from 2035.

A new study led by the University of South Australia has proposed a comprehensive product stewardship scheme for solar panels, which was prioritised by the Federal Government several years ago.

In a paper published in AIMS Energy, UniSA researcher Professor Peter Majewski says incentives are needed for producers to design solar panels that can be more easily recycled if they are damaged or out of warranty.

“Australia has one of the highest uptakes of solar panels in the world, which is outstanding, but little thought has been given to the significant volume of panels ending up in landfill 20 years down the track when they need to be replaced,” Prof Majewski says.

“There are some simple recycling steps that can be taken to reduce the waste volume, including removing the panels’ frames, glass covers and solar connectors before they are disposed of.

“Landfill bans are already in place in Victoria, following the lead of some European countries, encouraging existing installers to start thinking about recyclable materials when making the panels.”

Prof Majewski says landfill bans are a powerful tool but require legislation that ensures waste is not just diverted to other locations with less stringent regulations.

Serial numbers that can track a history of solar panels could also monitor their recycling use and ensure they are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.

“Several European nations have legislation in place for electric car manufacturers to ensure they are using materials that allow 85 per cent of the car to be recycled at the end of their life. Something similar could be legislated for solar panels.”

Weatherproof polymers used in solar panels pose environmental risks, releasing harmful hydro-fluorite gas when incinerated. Exposure to the gas can severely irritate and burn the eyes, causing headaches, nausea, and pulmonary edema in the worst cases, sometimes leaving permanent damage.

Another primary material used in solar cells is silicon, the second most abundant material on Earth after oxygen and the most common conductor used in computer chips.

“The demand for silicon is huge, so it’s important it is recycled to reduce its environmental footprint.
“About three billion solar panels are installed worldwide, containing about 1.8 million tons of high-grade silicon, the current value of which is USD 7.2 billion. Considering this, recycling of solar PV panels has the potential to be commercially viable.”

Prof Majewski says a second-hand economy could also be generated by re-using solar panels that are still functioning.

“Solar panel re-use offers a variety of social and environmental benefits, but consumers will need guarantees that second-hand panels will work properly and provide a minimum capacity in watts.”

Any end-of-life legislation will need to address existing and new panels and support the creation of a second-hand economy, Prof Majewski says.

A levy on the panels may also be needed to help finance an end-of-life scheme.

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National News Australia

Two teens charged with property offences in Tamworth and Hunterview – Operation Regional Mongoose

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Two teens charged with property offences in Tamworth and Hunterview – Operation Regional Mongoose

Thursday, 25 July 2024 01:34:07 PM
Two teens will face court charged following an investigation into multiple break-ins and a pursuit in the state’s north.

Operation Regional Mongoose is a high-visibility police operation to tackle serious property-related crime, committed predominately by young offenders.

Officers attached to Oxley and Hunter Valley Police Districts commenced investigations into multiple break-ins and a pursuit in the Tamworth and Hunter Valley areas. Items of note:

Between September 2023 and July 2024, police commenced inquiries in relation to multiple property related offences in the Tamworth area. Following inquiries, about 1.40pm on Tuesday (23 July 2024), police attended a home in Tamworth and arrested a 14-year-old boy where he was taken to Tamworth Police Station.
Police executed an outstanding arrest warrant for traffic and criminal-related offences. He was also charged with breach of bail. The teen was refused bail and appeared at a Children’s court on Tuesday (23 July 2024), where he was given conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 20 August 2024.

Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District commenced an investigation following reports of multiple aggravated break-ins and theft of vehicles in the Hunterview area throughout July 2024. On Thursday 11 July 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Hunterview, and seized five sets of car keys that were allegedly stolen. Following inquiries, about 12.55pm yesterday (Wednesday 24 July 2024), a 17-year-old boy attended Tamworth Police Station and was arrested.
He was charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-people there, two counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed, face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence, commit s 154A offence and disseminate, and breach of bail.

The teen was refused bail to appear at a Children’s court today (Thursday 25 July 2024).

Inquiries under Operation Regional Mongoose continue.

Anyone with information about Operation Regional Mongoose is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

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National News Australia

Two men arrested following Bondi police operation and pursuit

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Two men arrested following Bondi police operation and pursuit
Thursday, 25 July 2024 01:31:18 PM

Two men have been arrested following a police operation in Bondi this morning.

About 8.20am today (Thursday 25 July 2024), police were called to George Street, Dover Heights, following reports unknown men were allegedly seen walking around with firearms before leaving in a vehicle.

Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command arrived and immediately commenced patrols of the area.

Following inquiries, police located the vehicle, a Cupra SUV, travelling on Bondi Road, Bondi, a short time later.

Police directed the driver top stop, however when they allegedly failed to do so a pursuit was initiated.

The vehicle then stopped on Old South Head Road, Bondi, where the driver, a 20-year-old man, was arrested, and the passenger attempted to flee the scene.

Following an extensive search of the area – with assistance from specialist police – officers arrested a second man, aged 24, in the backyard of a nearby home.

Both men were taken to Waverly Police Station where they are assisting with inquiries.

Police have established a crime scene on Old South Head Road and have allegedly located and seized multiple firearms in the vehicle.

As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with CCTV or information about the incident to contact Eastern Suburbs Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

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National News Australia

Man charged following incident at Miranda shopping centre – CTST Command

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Man charged following incident at Miranda shopping centre – CTST Command
Thursday, 25 July 2024 12:21:33 PM

A man has been charged following an incident at a shopping centre in Sydney’s south yesterday.

Just after 2.00pm Wednesday 24 July 2024, emergency services were called to a shopping centre on the Kingsway at Miranda, following reports of a man throwing bottles inside a bathroom on level one.

Officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command attended and located several bottles which were seized for further forensic analysis.

The shopping centre was not evacuated.

Police established a number of crime scenes and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

About 2:16pm officers arrested a 21-year-old man nearby.

During a search of the man police located and seized a knife, a bottle, and other items.

He was taken to Sutherland Police Station, before being taken to hospital for treatment for a minor injury and assessment.

The man has been charged by officers attached to the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command with possess in public place non-firearm for discharging irritant, custody of knife in public place – first offence, and leave/send substance/article create false belief danger.

He was bail refused to appear before Sutherland Local Court today (Thursday 25 July 2024).

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

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