New plant plans to recycle 30% of US' retired solar panels by 2030

Nov 01, 2024

The facility is expected to recover up to 99% of materials from solar panels, including challenging bifacial panels, and convert them into new solar glass.

Sujita Sinha

SOLARCYCLE announced a 5 GW solar recycling facility in Cedartown, Georgia.

SOLARCYCLE

SOLARCYCLE is making a significant leap in solar sustainability with a massive recycling plant in Cedartown, Georgia, set to recycle 10 million solar panels annually.

The new 5 gigawatts (GW) facility, slated for completion in mid-2025, will initially have the capacity to recycle 2 million panels per year, with expansion plans as demand grows. The project aims to address the growing need for end-of-life solutions in the solar industry, as millions of panels installed in the past decade approach the end of their life cycle.

The company estimates it will recycle 25-30% of all the “retired solar panels” in the U.S. by 2030.

This Cedartown recycling plant will be complemented by a specialized solar glass factory, the first of its kind in the U.S., which will manufacture glass for crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar panels. Together, the facilities are expected to employ over 1,250 people at full capacity, creating both environmental and economic benefits.

SOLARCYCLE’s CEO, Suvi Sharma, expressed the importance of this dual-facility approach, saying, “By scaling recycling and solar glass manufacturing through a vertically integrated process, we are filling a critical gap in America’s solar supply chain and closing the loop for domestic solar manufacturing.”

The Cedartown facility brings innovative recycling technology to the forefront, with an impressive recovery rate of up to 99% of materials from solar panels, including bifacial panels, which present unique recycling challenges.

Currently, many recyclers treat monofacial and bifacial panels similarly, limiting efficiency. SOLARCYCLE’s approach, however, involves advanced processing techniques that can more effectively separate and reuse materials specific to each panel type.

This recovered material will feed directly into the solar glass factory next door, creating a streamlined recycling and manufacturing process that keeps materials within the U.S. supply chain. By maintaining this close-loop recycling approach, SOLARCYCLE aims to support domestic solar production and reduce reliance on imported raw materials for new panels.

This advanced facility in Cedartown marks SOLARCYCLE’s third U.S. location, adding to its existing facilities in Odessa, Texas, and Mesa, Arizona. The company has long-term partnerships with over 70 major U.S. energy companies for end-of-life panel recycling, which highlights the broad demand for sustainable panel disposal solutions in the solar sector.

SOLARCYCLE’s Cedartown project has garnered support from notable backers, including the U.S. government and corporate heavyweights.

The Biden-Harris administration’s clean energy policies have been pivotal, along with the backing of Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp. These efforts support the growth of domestic manufacturing for renewable energy, an area where the U.S. has traditionally relied on imported materials.

Microsoft recently joined the ranks of SOLARCYCLE’s investors, bringing both capital and commitment to the table.

Brandon Middaugh, Microsoft’s senior director of sustainability markets, emphasized Microsoft’s mission to invest in sustainable practices, saying, “It’s important to us that companies like SOLARCYCLE are developing innovative solutions for ensuring that the raw materials required for this build-out and deployment are returned to the supply chain.”

Other SOLARCYCLE investors include Fifth Wall, HG Ventures, and Closed Loop Partners, each committed to advancing circular economies and sustainable resource recovery.

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Sujita Sinha A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.

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