Held at the AAUN Forum in Perth on September 1, the Circular Economy Hackathon saw ten teams from universities across Australia and Africa propose sustainable solutions to global challenges.  

The winning team, made up of Phuntsho Gyeltshen, Karma Sangay, Victo Nalule, Salatu Abubakar, Gloria Amo-Duodu and Avishka Jayasinghe, was mentored by Murdoch University’s AAUN Early Career Research Lead and Indo-Pacific Research Centre Research Fellow Dr James Boafo.  

Their proposed solution addressed the growing challenge of solar panel and battery waste in the circular economy, championing the creation of clear pathways for end-of-life solar technologies – to ensure they are efficiently reused or appropriately recycled. 

Combining knowledge from their unique study areas - Chemical Engineering and the Master of Sustainable Development program, the team proposed a cohesive solution that impressed the judging panel.

Ms Amo-Duodu said the sense of camaraderie among the team members contributed greatly to their success. 

“What made our team work so strongly together was the diversity of our skills, perspectives and backgrounds. Everyone brought something different to the table, but we were united by the same goal,” Ms Amo-Duodu said.  

“We listened to each other, supported one another, and were always willing to step in wherever needed. That combination of trust, collaboration, and shared commitment really brought the team together.”  

Murdoch University is a founding member of the AAUN which is the flagship network of 29 universities from across Australia and the African continent who collaborate through equal partnership on research, capacity-building and academic diplomacy. 

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The solution the team proposed

The Murdoch team proposed SolarLoop Hub to address the growing problem of solar panel waste in Western Australia. Thousands of rooftop solar panels are removed each year due to upgrades, roof replacements, or hail damage, even though many remain functional. The proposed hub will collect, test, and certify decommissioned panels, enabling safe reuse in social housing, modular buildings, mining sites, and remote off-grid communities. Panels that cannot be reused will be recycled to recover valuable materials. By extending product lifecycles and reducing landfill waste, SolarLoop Hub creates a practical circular-economy solution that expands access to affordable renewable energy while reducing environmental impacts.