Electrical wholesaler, CEF, is teaming up with Waste Experts, a waste management specialist, and ROSI, a French solar panel recycling company, to offer UK-wide collection capabilities for end-of-life solar panels. The partnership aims to address the responsible recycling and treatment of end-of-life solar panels, which is a critical issue in the renewable energy sector.
As the UK makes efforts to shift to clean energy, sustainable solar panel recycling and material recovery has never been more critical. Despite this, CEF believes that the UK currently lacks the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the transition. At present, many end-of-life solar panels risk being sent to landfills, stock pilled or illegally exported, which leads to an increase in environmental harm.
To tackle this challenge, CEF (in partnership with Waste Experts and ROSI) is now offering a UK-wide collection for end-of-life solar panels via a combination of in-house and subcontracted fleets, ensuring fully compliant handling and transportation in line with environmental and regulatory standards.
The end-of-life solar panels will then be processed at ROSI’s facility using advanced recycling technologies to recover up to 95% of the value of photovoltaic (PV) modules, including high-purity silicon, silver, copper, aluminium, and high-transparency glass.
The approach aims to significantly reduce the reliance on virgin materials and ensures valuable resources remain in circulation. Producing less than 1% of disposable waste, it also helps cut carbon emissions, as each tonne of recycled solar modules saves one tonne of CO2, greatly reducing the environmental footprint of solar energy.
Mike Gadd, Director of Renewables at City Electrical Factors (CEF), says, “Waste Experts provide CEF customers with a nationwide solution to manage their carbon footprint by considering a product’s full lifecycle and ensuring responsible end-of-life treatment. By recovering valuable materials and minimising landfill waste, we are driving long-term sustainability in clean energy and beyond.”
As global demand for renewable energy continues to grow, Waste Experts and CEF are building a circular economy for solar panel materials – ensuring that renewable energy technologies are managed sustainably at every stage of their lifecycle.
“Our collaboration highlights the vital role of global partnerships in tackling sustainability challenges,” explains Shaun Donaghey, Managing Director of Waste Experts. “With our nationwide collection service and ROSI’s cutting-edge recycling processes, we’re not just addressing the immediate issue of end-of-life solar panel waste – we’re establishing a framework for responsible lifecycle management that sets a new benchmark for the renewable energy sector.”
Yun LUO, President and Co-Founder of ROSI, comments, “We are thrilled to partner with Waste Experts and CEF, [which are] leading figures in sustainable waste management in the UK. Their dedication to diverting waste from landfills and driving a circular economy perfectly aligns with our vision. This collaboration allows us to introduce our advanced solar panel recycling solutions to the UK market, ensuring responsible end-of-life management for photovoltaic modules.”
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