WASHINGTON, DC (April 16, 2024) – Sol Systems, a leader in renewable energy solutions financing and development, and SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based solar recycling company announced today a partnership that helps ensure Sol Systems’ solar energy projects remain truly sustainable throughout a panel’s lifecycle. As solar power adoption grows, so does the potential to create a truly domestic, circular economy for solar that is zero-waste. This new partnership addresses the challenge of recycling and reusing retired panels.

The collaboration has already successfully executed two work orders on distinct projects, demonstrating Sol Systems’ commitment to addressing the environmental impact of solar panel disposal, particularly at a project’s end-of-life where the lion’s share of waste occurs. Earlier this year, Sol Systems became one of the first companies in the country to successfully partner with SOLARCYCLE to rapidly and safely recycle panels from a community solar array in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, after it was damaged by extreme weather.

The two companies turned extreme weather – what may be seen by some as a challenge for the solar industry – into a positive opportunity. SOLARCYCLE’s proprietary technology extracts vital materials such as silver, silicon, copper, aluminum, and glass. This allows them to divert high-value materials from landfills and enables the recovery of up to 95% of the value of recycled panels. Extracted materials are then refined and reintroduced into the domestic supply chain, bolstering the commitments of both Sol Systems and SOLARCYCLE to reducing environmental impact, contributing to a circular economy, and enhancing sustainability in solar energy production.

“What SOLARCYCLE can do is groundbreaking, and it aligns with Sol Systems’ dedication to sustainability and innovation, especially as solar installations rapidly increase and the need for better end-of-life solutions for solar panels becomes more urgent,” Eugene Rhee, Associate Vice President of Performance Engineering at Sol Systems, said.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s research suggests that by 2040, recycled panels and materials could meet 25 to 30 percent of the U.S.’s domestic solar manufacturing needs. Recycled modules can become a valuable source of materials for domestic manufacturing, reducing America’s vulnerability to supply disruptions and ensuring the protection of workers and the environment.

“Sol Systems is helping to lead the way and usher in a new era of clean energy, by ensuring that their solar panels get a new life after they have been decommissioned,” said Jesse Simons, Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder of SOLARCYCLE. “We are thrilled to be working with their team on our shared mission to make solar even more sustainable, and we look forward to recycling their solar panels for many years to come.”