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Qcells, the South Korean solar manufacturer with major operations in the United States and Malaysia, has announced the official launch of EcoRecycle by Qcells, a new solar panel recycling business, with its first facility set to begin operations in Cartersville, Georgia.
At full capacity, the facility will be able to recycle up to 250 MW of solar panels annually, equivalent to approximately 500,000 panels per year. This marks a significant step toward creating a circular economy in the solar industry, particularly as Qcells plans to manufacture 3.3 GW of solar modules annually at its Cartersville site.
“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 U.S. 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 key materials from used solar modules—including aluminum, glass, silver, and copper—and process them for reuse. Qcells has stated that the Cartersville location will be the first of many planned recycling plants, as the company moves to scale this model nationwide.
EcoRecycle will focus on three core initiatives:
· Low-Cost, Responsible Recycling
A cost-effective take-back service with low recycling fees to provide seamless, accessible, and responsible disposal options for used solar panels.
· Advanced Separation Technology
Development and deployment of proprietary high-purity resource separation techniques to maximize material recovery, reuse, and sustainability in the solar recycling process.
· Reducing Carbon Emissions
Use of recycled resources in solar panel production to help cut carbon emissions, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and promote a more circular solar economy.
“As the U.S. 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 the 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.”
Qcells' investment in EcoRecycle signals a long-term commitment to not only clean energy production, but also to the environmental and economic frameworks that will support the industry’s growth for decades to come.
