High-Value Metal Recovery Strengthens Circular Solar Economy

Solarcycle, a U.S. solar panel recycling company based in Mesa, Arizona, signed a recycling services agreement with RWE Clean Energy. This new partnership focuses on recovering metals from solar panels used in RWE’s projects across the United States.

RWE chose Solarcycle after completing a thorough evaluation process. In the initial phase, panels from the West of the Pecos site in Texas went to Solarcycle’s Odessa facility. There, Solarcycle ran its full recycling process under the oversight of independent third-party experts.

Jesse Simons, CEO of Solarcycle, applauded RWE’s leadership in circular economy practices. He emphasized that RWE sets high standards and verifies them through comprehensive testing. Consequently, this collaboration offers the solar industry a model for responsible panel recycling.

Advanced Technology Boosts Metal Recovery and Reuse

Solarcycle’s proprietary technology captures up to 95% of each panel’s material value. These materials include aluminum, silver, copper, silicon, and glass. By recovering these high-value metals, Solarcycle keeps them in the supply chain and out of landfills.

The company currently operates recycling plants in Arizona, Texas, and Georgia. Together, these locations offer nationwide service and align with RWE’s expanding U.S. operations.

In 2024, the two companies worked jointly on projects at Alamo 7, Big Star, and West of the Pecos. Moving forward, they plan to expand this partnership in 2025 and beyond.

So far, Solarcycle has recycled nearly 500,000 solar panels. By year-end, the company expects to hit the 1 million panel milestone. Through this collaboration, RWE joins more than 90 clean energy companies partnering with Solarcycle to drive sustainability.

At SuperMetalPrice, we continue to follow progress in metal recovery, solar waste recycling, and the growing role of recycled metals in clean energy systems.