Natl capacity to recycle now exceeds supply

China's capacity to recycle retired solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries has far outpaced current waste volumes, leaving many specialized plants underutilized, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Guo Yijun, director-general of the ministry's Department of Solid Wastes and Chemicals, made the remarks at a news conference on Friday.

By 2030, the volume of retired equipment is projected to reach approximately 1.5 million to 2 million metric tons for photovoltaic modules, 500,000 tons for wind turbine blades and 1 million tons for power batteries, he said.

However, those estimates, based on product lifespans, may not reflect actual disposal levels because some retired equipment will be reused in secondary markets.

Guo said the country has seen rapid growth in its recycling capacity for such materials. Annual capacity for waste photovoltaic modules has reached around 2 million tons, while capacity for waste wind turbine blades has hit about 1 million tons.

A total of 148 companies certified by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to recycle discarded power batteries now have a combined annual capacity of 2.5 million tons, he said.

Overall, China's recycling capacity now exceeds the supply of retired equipment, often leaving plants operating below potential, he said, describing the situation as "cannot eat their fill".

His remarks addressed concerns from some market observers that the country's fast-expanding renewable power industry could create volumes of waste that would be difficult to manage.

China's cumulative installed wind power capacity reached 44.7 gigawatts in 2010, surpassing the United States to rank first in the world, according to the Chinese Wind Energy Association. As of the end of October, the figure had jumped to 590 gigawatts, National Energy Administration data shows.

While wind turbines are designed to operate for 20 to 25 years, early models have often required replacement after only about 15 years due to technological and material limitations.

Guo also cited sufficient capacity for recycling discarded home appliances and vehicles. To ensure standardized and orderly operations in recycling televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers, the government has allocated special funds to subsidize qualified enterprises.

More than 90 companies are eligible for the subsidies, with a combined annual capacity of 180 million units. They recycled about 95 million units in 2024, generating nearly 2 million tons of recycled materials, he said.

"Standardized dismantling not only effectively prevents environmental pollution, but also significantly promotes resource recycling. It is a highly meaningful endeavor," Guo said.

China also has more than 1,900 qualified end-of-life vehicle recycling and dismantling enterprises nationwide. In 2024, 8.46 million end-of-life vehicles were recycled, representing a 64 percent year-on-year increase, he said.

Despite the growth, Guo cautioned about risks of overcapacity in the sector.

"Regional commerce authorities have repeatedly warned of overcapacity in vehicle dismantling in recent years, advising market participants to make rational investment decisions to avoid resource waste and disorderly competition," he said.