Solarcycle partners with Qcells to recycle solar panels

Qcells, a clean energy solutions provider in United States residential and commercial markets, will partner with Solarcycle, a technology-based solar recycling company, to recycle Qcells’ decommissioned, owned and installed solar panels in the country. The companies say the announcement marks the first-of-its-kind partnership between a large solar manufacturer and an advanced solar recycler in the U.S.

The companies say they will work together to accelerate their shared vision of building a circular, clean energy supply chain that creates jobs and reduces U.S. reliance on imported, raw materials that are frequently subject to supply chain disruptions.

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Recycled materials from Qcells’ panels, such as aluminum, silver, copper, silicon and low-iron glass, will be reused in the domestic supply chain to manufacture the next generation of clean energy products, according to the South Korea-based company with a U.S. headquarters in Irvine, California. Solarcycle’s patented technology extracts more than 95 percent of the value in a solar panel module, which it says is far above the current industry standard of around 50 percent.

Qcells says it operates the largest silicon-based solar panel factory in the U.S., based in Dalton, Georgia. One in three solar panels installed on rooftops in the country are made by Qcells, the company claims, adding that its panels are consistently ranked as a “favorite choice” in the U.S. commercial solar market.

Qcells will work with Odessa, Texas-based Solarcycle to recycle its own installed panels and also will refer Qcells customers to its trusted partner for their own recycling needs. Solarcycle is experienced with Qcells’ products and can efficiently demanufacture its panels and the panels of Qcells’ customers who are looking to join the circular clean energy economy, the company says.

In January 2023, Qcells announced plans to invest more than $2.5 billion to build a complete and sustainable solar supply chain in the U.S., increasing production capacity to 8.4 gigawatts by 2024 and creating a total of 4,000 clean energy jobs.

“We are proud of the clean energy products we offer, but Qcells is committed to going further than that,” says Kelly Weger, director of sustainability at Qcells. “We want our solar panels to not only help our customers cut costs and carbon, but also to be a part of building a more sustainable clean energy industry. Our partnership with Solarcycle will give our panels a life after powering homes, businesses and communities, reducing waste and reusing pieces for all types of technology, including solar.”

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Solarcycle currently operates facilities in Odessa and Mesa, Arizona, and has inked long-term partnerships with more than 40 of the nation’s largest solar energy companies. The company has hired nearly 100 staff members since it opened its doors in 2022. In the next few years, the company plans to expand its workforce beyond 700 jobs to meet demand for domestic supply chains and advanced recycling.

“What is so exciting about this partnership with Qcells is how aligned we are on our common mission to build a circular economy for solar in America,” Solarcycle co-founder and CEO Suvi Sharma says. “When you look at the footprint of Qcells panels in commercial and residential solar across America, the impact of today’s partnership announcement is quite significant. Together we can close the supply chain loop to ensure solar energy is manufactured and recycled in the U.S. using American labor and cutting-edge sustainability practices.”