Qcells, a South Korean solar manufacturer with production facilities in the US and Malaysia, has officially launched EcoRecycle by Qcells, its first dedicated solar panel recycling operation. The initial facility is set to be established in Cartersville, Georgia, where Qcells is also ramping up solar module manufacturing with a planned production capacity of 3.3 GW.
Image credit: redington.solar
Once fully operational, the EcoRecycle plant will be capable of recycling approximately 250 MW of solar panels annually, translating to around 500,000 panels per year. With this initiative, Qcells becomes the first crystalline silicon (C-Si) solar panel producer to integrate both manufacturing and recycling operations in the US.
“With this new business, Qcells will emerge as the first-ever crystalline silicon (C-Si) solar panel producer to possess a full value chain, conducting both solar panel manufacturing and recycling on US soil,” said Kelly Weger, Senior Director of Sustainability at Qcells. “Effectively managing solar waste is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the clean energy sector.”
The EcoRecycle facility will recover and process valuable materials from decommissioned solar modules, including aluminium, glass, silver and copper. These materials will be reintegrated into the manufacturing supply chain, supporting the growth of a circular solar economy in the United States. This Cartersville plant is only the beginning, as Qcells has announced plans to expand the recycling program nationwide.
EcoRecycle will focus on three core initiatives:
“As the US moves towards a more sustainable and self-reliant solar industry, EcoRecycle by Qcells is committed to pioneering innovative recycling technologies that not only reduce environmental impact, but also create economic opportunities,” said Jung-Kwon Hong, Head of Qcells Manufacturing Group. “Through strategic investments and cutting-edge solutions, we are positioning ourselves as a leader in the circular economy, ensuring that solar energy remains a truly renewable and responsible power source.”
A major advancement at the EcoRecycle facility is its sorting technology, which ensures high-purity separation of recovered materials. Efficient sorting is critical to enhancing the quality and value of recycled outputs. By accurately isolating aluminium, glass, and metals such as silver and copper, Qcells can reintroduce these materials directly into new production cycles, significantly improving resource efficiency and supporting closed-loop manufacturing.
As the US solar market grows, so does concern over solar panel waste. According to the US EPA, the country is projected to have the second-highest volume of decommissioned panels globally, with an estimated 10 million tons in total. In response, solar recycling facilities are emerging across the nation, particularly in states like Texas, now the fastest-growing solar state, which recently passed a bill mandating recycling for solar and wind decommissioning projects. With EcoRecycle, Qcells positions itself at the forefront of this transformation, championing both sustainability and innovation in solar energy lifecycle management.
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