The ZEOS eco-system provides its clients with free recycling of solar panels

This text is intended for manufacturers, importers, distributors, dealers and intermediaries in the sale of solar panels, as well as companies and citizens who use the panels and want to hand them over for recycling.

Responsibility for solar panels begins with their placing on the market and lasts until proper disposal after use. Taxpayers who place electrical and electronic equipment covered by the regulations on the market of the Federation of BiH for the first time are obliged to fulfill the obligations of waste equipment management, which can be contractually transferred to the authorized operator ZEOS eko-system. Dealers and distributors who purchase equipment for resale should provide proof that the prescribed obligations have been fulfilled for it; otherwise, the responsibility for including that equipment in the system and paying the fee passes to them.

The ZEOS eco-system provides its customers with free recycling of solar panels, with an agreement on the method of delivery and appropriate documentation. This continues the responsibility towards the environment even after the cessation of electricity production: the written off panels are directed into an organized disposal stream, and the recyclable materials are separated for new use. Whether the reason for the replacement is damage, malfunction or modernization of the power plant, contact ZEOS in time and include the disposal of old equipment in your plan.

You are a click away from recycling, if you need click here.

Solar panels have been producing energy for years. What happens when they need to be replaced?

Solar power plants are becoming an increasingly important part of energy production. Their panels are designed for a long service life, but they are not indestructible. Hail, strong winds, damage during transport or assembly, humidity and prolonged exposure to weather conditions can affect their operation. The panel can be replaced even before the end of the expected service life if the owner modernizes the power plant with more efficient equipment.

In each of these cases, a question arises that should be planned in advance: what to do with the panels and other electrical equipment that is being removed from use?

When should the panel be inspected and when should it be replaced?

Visible broken glass, a damaged frame or traces of ignition are a clear reason for a professional inspection. Nevertheless, the damage is not always visible to the naked eye. Hail can cause cracks in solar cells even when the front surface of the panel looks undamaged. Moisture penetration, damage to joints, changes in protective layers, and malfunctions of electrical components can also affect the operation.

Special attention should be paid to the "red dots" on the thermal image. These can indicate places that heat up more than the rest of the panel, or so-called hotspots. Possible causes include a damaged cell, a problem with the joint, or partial shading. The color on the image alone is not enough for diagnosis: it is necessary to check the shooting conditions and the condition of the system. A red spot that is visible on the panel itself, without a thermal camera, also requires inspection, but its cause cannot be determined based on appearance alone. Link: IEA PVPS, overview of photovoltaic module failures New panels

are more efficient. Does this mean that old ones should be removed immediately?

Technology is advancing. According to report by the Fraunhofer ISE, the efficiency of commercial monocrystalline silicon modules has increased from approximately 17% to almost 25% over the last decade. That is why new equipment in the available area can provide higher installed power.

However, a more efficient new panel is not in itself a reason for a proper old panel to become waste. The decision to replace should be based on the actual production, technical condition, repairability, costs and modernization plan of the power plant. If the panel is safe and functional, continued use may be a more reasonable choice. When it is no longer suitable for use, it is necessary to organize its proper disposal.

How are panels recycled?

The process depends on the technology of the panel and the capabilities of the plant that processes it. In conventional silicon modules, the frame, cables and junction box can be separated first. Then, materials such as glass, aluminum and other components are separated by various mechanical processes. More advanced processes also use thermal or chemical treatment to better extract silicon and valuable metals.

Recycling does not mean that every plant separates all materials of the same quality. Technologies are evolving, and the treatment options vary from one disposal chain to another. This is also shown by the IEA PVPS report on the development of solar module recycling from 2026. That is why it is important that the written off panels are recorded and handed over through the ZEOS eco-system an organized, authorized waste stream, with clear information on their further treatment.

What do the EU and the Federation of BiH prescribe?

In the European Union, photovoltaic panels are included in the framework for waste electrical and electronic equipment, known as WEEE. The 2024 EU Directive further clarifies the rules on financing the management of waste panels, especially in relation to the date they are placed on the market. EU rules show how important it is to think about a panel throughout its entire life cycle, from the moment it is purchased to the moment it goes out of service.

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the treatment of electrical and electronic equipment is regulated by Rulebook on Waste Management of Electrical and Electronic Products ("Official Gazette of FBiH", No. 23/23). In the case of solar power plants, it is necessary to check the classification of specific equipment and the appropriate method of submission, especially when it comes to equipment installed in the facility. For free consultations regarding your legal obligation in the case of placement or distribution of solar panels, you can contact us at 033 628 606 or info@zeos.ba.

Where to contact in FBiH?

The ZEOS eco-system is the right address for the first step. If you are replacing or removing panels, inverters or other electrical equipment of a solar power plant, please contact us before dismantling and removal. Provide information about the type of equipment, approximate quantity, its condition and location. Based on this information, we can instruct you on how to check the appropriate way of handing over and organizing the treatment of waste equipment.

ZEOS already enables legal entities in FBiH to hand over electrical and electronic waste and provides information on the collection order and accompanying documentation. For panels and equipment of solar power plants, the method of proceeding should be determined according to the specific case.

Clean energy production and responsible handling of equipment go hand in hand. If you are planning to inspect, replace or modernize a solar power plant, include equipment that will go out of use in the plan.

Contact the ZEOS eco-system: info@zeos.ba | +387 33 628 606

Tags: electrical waste, electronic waste, electrical waste, electronic waste, solar panels, e-waste recycling, solar panel disposal.