Addressing the challenge of solar waste management in the US, EcoRecycle, a new solar panel recycling program was launched by Hanwha Qcells in partnership with Solarcycle in Cartersville,Georgia. The facility will process 250 MW – or 500,000 panels – annually, recovering up to 95% of valuable mined materials including aluminum, glass, silver, silicon, and copper to reuse in new panels and products. EcoRecycle plans to open its solar panel recycling centers across the US.
This will reduce reliance on importing key materials to make solar panels and represents a step toward establishing a circular economy within the solar industry. Also, it will reduce carbon emissions from solar electricity (see Table, Source: Solar Learning Center). According to EIA’s latest forecast, solar will make up more than half of new US utility-scale power projects in 2025, Learn more here.
