Engie is advancing its commitment to sustainability by initiating a pilot programme that integrates the recycling of solar panels and related components into the early stages of project planning for four upcoming developments.
This pioneering strategy is to be executed in collaboration with technology-driven solar panel recycling company Solarcycle.
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The innovative approach aims to incorporate end-of-life material recycling right from the start of the project’s lifecycle, aligning with energy buyers’ sustainability goals.
The precycling initiative is designed to be integrated into power purchase agreements, ensuring that one million panels from 375MW projects across the Midwest are recycled at end-of-life.
By doing so, Engie contributes to the full circularity of these projects while diverting significant waste from landfills and reducing carbon emissions.
Solarcycle estimates that the initiative will prevent 48 million pounds of material from ending up in landfills and avoid 33,000t of carbon emissions.
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By GlobalDataThe agreement also includes measures to recycle all construction waste and system components where possible.
Engie power marketing senior vice-president Caroline Mead stated: “We are delighted to bring this innovative approach to life. Our collaboration with Solarcycle demonstrates the shared commitment we have to the long-term sustainability of our industry.”
As clean energy demand in the US grows, partnerships like that between Engie and Solarcycle become crucial for meeting capacity requirements sustainably.
The collaboration ensures traceability and circularity of materials used in these projects, with recovered materials re-entered into the domestic supply chain for future clean energy solutions.
These pilot projects are part of Engie’s larger portfolio, which includes more than 12GW of wind, solar, and battery storage operations in North America.
Completion is expected in the 2020s, further cementing Engie’s commitment to sustainable practices in energy production.
Solarcycle co-founder and chief commercial officer Jesse Simons stated: “Engie’s precycling provision sets a new precedent for the utility-scale solar industry by proving that circular economy principles can be achieved without complex regulatory intervention and in a way that doesn’t require an up-front payment. We’re happy to work creatively with leaders like Engie to support their commitment to circularity, domestic energy, and sustainability.”
In 2024, Engie has secured 4.3GW of PPAs compared to 2.7GW secured in the previous year. This increase brings the company’s total portfolio of already contracted PPAs to 14GW.
