Do solar energy systems have a mid-life crisis? Valorising renewables and ignoring waste in regional towns in Australia's Northern Territory. (June 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Do solar energy systems have a mid-life crisis? Valorising renewables and ignoring waste in regional towns in Australia's Northern Territory. (June 2021)
- Main Title:
- Do solar energy systems have a mid-life crisis? Valorising renewables and ignoring waste in regional towns in Australia's Northern Territory
- Authors:
- Mathur, Deepika
Gregory, Robin
Hogan, Eleanor - Abstract:
- Abstract: As the use of solar systems as an alternate source of energy increases, so too does the volume of waste from decommissioned systems. While several options have been suggested as solutions for the end of life of solar systems in terms of their component elements in urban regions, there is little discussion of managing waste arising in regional areas where volumes are often below necessary thresholds. This paper discusses why solar energy systems in Australia's Northern Territory are being removed and how they are disposed of. Results suggest that there are several social and economic reasons for their removal, as it is not just a matter of failure to generate electric power. Since solar energy generation waste is a new problem, there are few or no social mechanisms in place to manage this waste. The results of this study highlight the need for addressing this gap. This paper inquires into, and attempts to formulate an early definition of this newly emergent social problem, conceptualising it as a sociomaterial issue.
- Is Part Of:
- Energy research & social science. Volume 76(2021)
- Journal:
- Energy research & social science
- Issue:
- Volume 76(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 76, Issue 2021 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 76
- Issue:
- 2021
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0076-2021-0000
- Page Start:
- Page End:
- Publication Date:
- 2021-06
- Subjects:
- Solar energy systems -- Socio-material -- Solar panel waste -- Regional towns -- Recycling solar panels -- Mid-life crisis
Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals
Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals
333.7905 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/ ↗
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.erss.2021.101934 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2214-6296
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 16882.xml