Signs of Mandatory Recycling for End-of-Life Modules... Hanwha Qcells Moves to Take the Lead
Georgia Hub to Process 500,000 Modules Annually... "Nationwide Expansion Planned"
Hanwha Qcells, a subsidiary of Hanwha Solutions' solar division, is making a full-scale entry into the U.S. solar module recycling market. Anticipating a surge in demand for end-of-life module processing, the company aims to proactively establish a resource circulation system and expand its reach across the entire U.S. solar supply chain.
On June 10, Hanwha Qcells announced that it officially launched its U.S. solar module recycling business brand, "EcoRecycle by Qcells," on June 9 local time. The company also plans to establish a dedicated recycling center in White County, Georgia, within this year, capable of processing 500,000 end-of-life modules annually. This corresponds to a facility capacity of approximately 250 MW, comparable to a small-to-medium-sized thermal power plant. Starting with the construction of this center, EcoRecycle by Qcells plans to expand its operations nationwide across the United States.
EcoRecycle by Qcells is not simply a recycling business; it is responsible for the entire process, starting with the transportation of decommissioned modules from power plants. The scope covers the full cycle, including transportation, resource extraction, and reintegration into new module production. At the Georgia recycling center, high-value resources such as aluminum, glass, silver, and copper will be separated and applied to the production of new modules. Through this process, Hanwha Qcells announced its intention to reduce carbon emissions generated during the module manufacturing process.
This entry is a decision that directly targets the characteristics of the U.S. market. By expanding into the downstream segment of the U.S. solar value chain and reintegrating recycled materials into its own module production, the company is pursuing a multi-layered strategy aimed at both cost reduction and supply stability. According to Hanwha Qcells, the United States is expected to generate a cumulative total of 21 GW of end-of-life modules by 2030, with the volume projected to continue increasing thereafter. To date, there is no federal mandate for recycling, so many end-of-life modules are still being landfilled. However, as some states such as Washington and California begin to implement recycling legislation, the related market is gradually opening up.
A Hanwha Qcells representative stated, "Hanwha Qcells has launched this new business to establish a virtuous cycle of resources by handling both product manufacturing and the collection and recycling of waste. Starting with the Georgia center, we will expand our recycling infrastructure nationwide across the United States."
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