Feature Story Energy & Maritime Solutions

Building circularity into the future of solar

September 23, 2026
A row of solar panels

As the energy transition accelerates, growing volumes of renewable energy infrastructure will eventually reach the end of their operational lives. For the solar industry, this makes recovering and reusing valuable materials an increasingly important part of the equation.​

Timed with Climate Week NYC, World Economic Forum’s Circular Transformation of Industries (CTI) Sectoral Playbook provides a practical framework for industrial companies looking to scale circularity, with a focus on strengthening resource security, resilience, and growth.​

Putting that framework into practice, the playbook features Hanwha’s EcoRecycle by Qcells as a case study in building the first closed-loop solar panel recycling network in the U.S., connecting end-of-life recovery with the broader solar value chain.​

Explore the playbook and learn how Hanwha is supporting a more circular and resilient U.S. solar industry.

Closing the loop on solar: Building circularity into the solar lifecycle
WEF’s CTI Sectoral Playbook explores how companies can scale circularity to strengthen resilience and unlock new value
Recycling old modules can help keep valuable materials out of landfills and in use
EcoRecycle by Qcells is the first closed-loop solar recycling network in the U.S.
EcoRecycle can process up to 500,000 end-of-life solar panels a year at full capacity
Recovered resources are then reintroduced into Qcells’ U.S. supply chains
EcoRecycle is forecast to lower C02 emissions by 32,595 metric tons based on projected recycling capacity
Hanwha is helping build a more circular and resilient U.S. solar value chain, connecting manufacturing with end-of-life recovery to keep valuable materials in use