Hello there! I’m extremely excited to bring to you some truly groundbreaking news from the world of solar. If you’ve been following my solar energy landscape coverage, you’ll be aware that the recycling of solar panels is an area where significant advancements are needed. Today, I’m thrilled to share that two US-based solar companies, Qcells and Solarcycle, have joined forces to bring about a breakthrough for the domestic solar industry and the recycling scene.
Qcells is a renowned solar company, known for their top-grade manufacturing of solar modules. Their solar panels for your home or business not only help you reduce your carbon footprint but could also save you quite a bit on your energy bill. Now, in a landmark deal, they have committed their decommissioned solar panels for recycling to Solarcycle.
This partnership is indeed a trailblazing initiative in solar recycling in the United States. Qcells is planning to expand their operation to an impressive 8.4 GW by the end of 2024 – a move that will indeed show the true might of American solar manufacturing. They’re not limiting this growth to their solar operation but also hope to add about 4,000 jobs. A thriving solar company, indeed!
What makes this deal even more inspiring is Solarcycle’s patented recovery process. Unlike conventional methods which extract roughly 50% of a solar panel’s material value, Solarcycle’s ingenious approach enables the recovery of a whopping 95% of the materials in a panel. Talk about effective and efficient recycling! The solar array for home use doesn’t just stop at powering households now. The materials recovered – including aluminum, silver, silicon, low-iron glass and copper, are all set to be reintegrated into the manufacturing value chain, creating a truly circular economy.
Given the rapid adoption of solar in the country, such a partnership is a timely and vital move. Without an uptick in solar recycling, we would have a potentially ground-breaking solution (solar power itself) create an ancillary problem of solar waste. Akin to the old adage of ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. But with the robust recycling operation by Solarcycle and involvement of solar companies like Qcells, we’re looking at a hopeful future in curtailing solar waste.
I’m particularly excited by what this partnership means for the solar industry because it shows that the future of solar is not just about ensuring we increase the number of solar panels for your home. It’s also about what we do with those panels once they’ve served their purpose. This way, we get the best out of these resources without adversely affecting our precious environment.
In the coming years, don’t be surprised to find companies emulating this Solarcycle-Qcells partnership. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has projected that by 2040, these recycled materials could meet up to 30% of domestic solar manufacturing needs. That’s a future I would love to wake up to!
Stay tuned for more updates from the realm of solar. Together, let’s bask in the sunny future of renewable energy!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/02/12/qcells-partners-to-recover-95-of-solar-panel-value-with-recycler/
