SOLARCYCLE is working with Qcells, a solar module manufacturer, to recycle the company’s decommissioned, owned and installed solar panels in the United States. This is the time a solar manufacturer and recycler have partnered United States.
Working together, the companies will 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.
“We are proud of the clean energy products we offer, but Qcells is committed to going further than that,” said Kelly Weger, Qcells’ director of sustainability. “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.”
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. SOLARCYCLE’s patented technology extracts more than 95% of the value in a solar panel module.
Qcells operates a silicon-based solar panel factory in Dalton, Georgia. Qcells will work with SOLARCYCLE to recycle its own installed panels and will also refer Qcells’ customers for their own recycling needs.
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 GW by 2024 and creating a total of 4,000 clean energy jobs.
SOLARCYCLE currently operates facilities in Odessa, Texas, and Mesa, Arizona – and has inked long-term partnerships with more than 40 solar energy companies. The company has hired nearly 100 staff members since opening in 2022. In the next few years, it 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. 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,” said Suvi Sharma, SOLARCYCLE’s CEO and co-founder. “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.”
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