During its review of the draft Law on Electricity (amended), the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment recommended that the drafting body study and incorporate principles for environmental protection in renewable and new energy development. This aims to establish a legal framework for ministries and agencies to specifically regulate the management and disposal of solar panels.

Reports indicate that the rapid development of solar power projects without suitable disposal mechanisms for expired panels presents environmental concerns (Social Affairs Committee Report No. 2965/BC-UBXH15, dated October 3, 2024).

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has responded by stating that the draft law includes framework regulations concerning environmental protection during the development of renewable and new energy sources. The Ministry noted that environmental protection activities must comply with existing regulations outlined in the Law on Environmental Protection and the guidance of state agencies.

Previously, in its report on implementing policies and laws for energy development from 2016-2021, the government acknowledged the growing concern over solar panel waste. Although still minimal in volume, waste from expired solar panels is “worth noting.” Vietnam, being relatively new to the renewable energy market, has not yet seen any solar or wind power projects reach the decommissioning stage.

Research into technologies and solutions for the recovery, treatment, and recycling of damaged or expired solar panels is planned to prepare for increased waste as solar panel use expands towards the end of the planning period.

The government’s plan states that “a pilot project for waste treatment could be initiated as the amount of waste grows at the end of the planning period.”

According to Article 56, Clause 3 of Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP, the government emphasizes that the management and treatment of expired solar panels should follow a prioritized order: reuse, maintenance, component recovery, recycling, and, as a last resort, disposal according to legal regulations.

The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) has conducted extensive research on handling expired solar panels in various countries. Their published findings highlight the following practices:

- EU: Regulations mandate a recycling/reuse rate of 85%/80% for solar panels.

- USA: There are currently no specific laws governing the management of expired PV panels.

- Japan: No particular regulations for expired solar panels exist; if panels are discarded, they are treated as standard solid waste (non-hazardous) and are also recycled.

- China and South Korea: Similar assessments have been noted.

The government report confirms that “no developed country classifies PV solar panels as hazardous waste; instead, they are considered resources for creating new solar panels or other purposes.”

Luong Bang