SOLARCYCLE, a prominent player in solar sustainability, has unveiled plans for a groundbreaking solar panel recycling plant in Cedartown, Georgia.
Set to handle 10 million solar panels annually, this facility aims to transform the solar industry’s end-of-life handling in the United States.
This innovative plant is designed with a remarkable capability to recover up to 99% of materials from solar panels, including the complex bifacial panels, and convert them into new solar glass.
This ambitious initiative addresses the critical need for solutions to manage the growing volume of retired solar panels.
The new facility will initially commence operations with the capacity to recycle 2 million panels per year by mid-2025, scaling up as demand increases.
As predicted, by 2030, this advanced facility is expected to process a significant share, approximately 25-30%, of the U.S.’s retired solar panel inventory.
This project is complemented by an adjacent solar glass factory, the first of its kind in the U.S. This factory will produce specialized glass for crystalline silicon solar panels, fostering a self-sufficient supply chain.
Together, the establishment of these facilities promises to create over 1,250 jobs, significantly boosting both economic and environmental advancements.
Suvi Sharma, CEO of SOLARCYCLE, emphasizes the project’s role in closing a major gap in the U.S. solar supply chain.
“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,” Sharma stated.
The Cedartown facility employs cutting-edge recycling technology, marking a pivotal improvement over traditional recycling methods that treated monofacial and bifacial panels similarly.
SOLARCYCLE’s advanced processing techniques ensure efficient separation and reuse of materials specific to each type of panel, promoting a streamlined and localized recycling and manufacturing process.
This approach not only supports domestic solar production but also reduces dependency on imported raw materials.
Currently operating two facilities in Odessa, Texas, and Mesa, Arizona, the Cedartown site represents SOLARCYCLE’s third U.S. location, expanding its capacity to meet the growing demand for sustainable panel disposal solutions.
The company’s long-term partnerships with over 70 major U.S. energy companies underscore the widespread demand for these eco-friendly services.
Significant support from key stakeholders, including the U.S. government and corporate investors, highlights the strategic importance of this project.
The Biden-Harris administration’s clean energy policies, alongside Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp’s support, have been instrumental in making these facilities viable, encouraging domestic manufacturing for renewable energy resources.
Microsoft stands out among SOLARCYCLE’s strategic investors, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable practices in the growth of this green initiative.
Brandon Middaugh, Microsoft’s senior director of sustainability markets, emphasized the importance of companies like SOLARCYCLE in maintaining the supply chain loop by reclaiming raw materials for new panel production.
As the solar sector continues to face the challenge of managing end-of-life panels, SOLARCYCLE’s Cedartown facility is poised to lead the way in innovative recycling, sustainable manufacturing, and fostering a closed-loop economy.
With an integration of cutting-edge technology and robust support systems, this initiative marks a significant step toward enhancing the U.S.’s role in the global solar industry.