Circular Economy Opportunity: Recycling Solar & Wind Materials
23 January 2026 – by Editorial Team
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and others
Solar panels and wind turbines are often criticised for creating a future waste problem. But the reality is very different.
In this episode of Energy Insights, host Stephen explores why renewables are among the most recyclable energy technologies in the world. With up to 95% of solar and wind materials already recoverable, clean energy is moving towards a circular model where value is reused rather than discarded.
The episode looks at how recycling renewable infrastructure can create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and reduce dependence on imported raw materials. It also compares renewable end-of-life materials with the permanent pollution left behind by fossil fuels, showing why the scale and impact are often misunderstood.
The takeaway is clear: renewables are not creating a waste crisis. They are creating an opportunity to build cleaner, more resilient energy systems through circular design.
