Alberta To Introduce New Solar Panel Recycling Fee in October

Alberta, Canada, is set to launch a new solar PV module recycling program on October 1, 2026, requiring suppliers to pay a C$14 environmental fee per eligible module to fund collection, transportation and recycling at the end of the module’s life.

New Fee Covers All Major PV Projects

The program, administered by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), will apply to crystalline silicon and thin-film PV modules measuring at least 1 m². It will cover residential, commercial, industrial and utility-scale solar projects.

For a typical residential system with 20 modules, the new fee would add approximately C$280 to the installation cost. Existing modules will not be charged retroactively.

Alberta expects the program to recover materials including glass, aluminum, silicon, silver and copper. More than 95% of currently installed modules are expected to reach end-of-life by 2045, potentially generating around 72,700 tonnes of waste material.

Industry Questions the C$14 Fee

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) has raised concerns that the fee is significantly higher than the expected recycling cost.

An independent study commissioned by CanREA estimated the present-value recycling cost at approximately C$5 per module, even after accounting for future cost increases and module reuse. The association therefore argues that the C$14 fee could be excessive.

CanREA also notes that solar and wind are currently the only power-generation technologies in Alberta subject to this type of recycling surcharge.

Reuse and Recycling Capacity in Focus

CanREA warns that collecting a fee decades before most modules reach retirement could increase costs for consumers and potentially discourage solar adoption.

Alberta previously conducted PV recycling pilot programs from 2022 to 2025. Under the new program, suppliers will begin reporting and paying the environmental fee from October, while retired modules will also be accepted from October 1.

The province plans to begin discussions on PV module reuse standards in 2027 and explore further investment in local recycling capacity.