Qcells to Expand Georgia Operations with New Solar Recycling Facility

A solar panel manufacturer plans to enter the recycling business with the proposed launch of a new aluminum, glass, silver and copper recycling facility in Georgia.

Qcells, a manufacturer of solar panels headquartered in South Korea, announced the formation of EcoRecycle by Qcells, which will be based in Cartersville, Georgia. The company also has a location in Dalton that employs more than 4,000 people.

With the new facility, Qcells will become the first solar company to manufacture and recycle solar panels. Company officials say the move into recycling comes as the number of decommissioned panels is expected to increase annually. Many decommissioned solar panels end up in landfills because of a lack of regulations. According to the MIT Technology Review, only about 10% of panels in the United States are recycled.

“With this new business, Qcells will emerge as the first-ever crystalline silicon solar panel producer to possess a full value chain, conducting solar panel manufacturing and recycling on U.S. soil,” says 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.”

Officials say the recycling facility will be able to recycle approximately 250 megawatts of solar panels annually, around 500,000 panels per year, repurposing materials such as glass and aluminum, which account for around 80% of a solar panel’s weight.

Qcells aims to expand its recycling capabilities in the U.S. in the coming years.