Shining a Light on Solar Panel Recycling - New in North Carolina!
Solar has and will continue to play a pivotal role in the transition to a world powered by clean, renewable energy. However, as the solar industry continues to expand, so does the challenge of disposing of damaged solar panels and those at the end of their lives.
Enter Powerhouse Recycling, located in Salisbury, North Carolina!
Powerhouse Recycling, Inc. is a market leading provider of ITAD buyback and electronics recycling services. Lead by a team of industry veterans, Powerhouse Recycling boasts state-of-the-art facilities and newly-engineered recycling technologies. Their mission is simple yet hugely impactful: to divert end-of-life ITAD and electronics (like solar panels) from landfills and recover valuable materials for reuse. Through strategic partnerships and innovative processes, Powerhouse Recycling has already recycled over one million pounds of solar panels, spanning multiple states.
You can read a little more about Powerhouse in this news article.
The Need for Solar Panel Recycling
With the increasing adoption of solar energy systems, the volume of decommissioned solar panels is also on the rise. These panels contain valuable materials such as silicon, metals, glass, and plastics that can be recovered and used again in the manufacturing supply chain. However, without proper recycling initiatives in place, these materials may end up in landfills, posing environmental risks and forfeiting our access to valuable resources.
Panel Recycling in the United States
The United States is among the leading countries in solar energy production, with millions of solar panels installed across residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. As of 2021, the US had an estimated 100 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, with projections indicating significant growth in the coming years.
Despite the rapid expansion of the solar industry, the recycling infrastructure for solar panels remains relatively far behind. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), only about 10% to 30% of solar panels are currently recycled globally. This underscores the need for increased investment and innovation in solar panel recycling technologies and practices.
Fortunately, solar panels have long lives - the first significant wave of retired panels can be expected within the next five years, and we are now able to more easily recycle in North Carolina thanks to Powerhouse!
