Closing The Loop: OnePlanet’s Solar Panel Recycling Facility Scores Major Funding Boost

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In a significant move that highlights the importance of sustainability within the solar sector, OnePlanet has secured a substantial financial foundation to build its flagship solar panel recycling facility in Green Cove Springs, Florida. With a freshly closed $7 million seed funding round and an additional $14.5 million in federal clean energy tax credits, the startup is poised to tackle a critical yet often overlooked aspect of renewable energy — managing solar panel waste.

As the global adoption of solar energy accelerates, the industry faces an increasingly urgent issue — the end-of-life management of solar panels. The International Renewable Energy Agency projects solar panel waste could surpass 10 million tons globally by 2050, prompting an urgent need for scalable recycling solutions. OnePlanet, founded in 2023, is rising to meet this challenge head-on.

A Cutting-Edge Approach To Solar Panel Recycling

OnePlanet’s flagship project, known as the River City Project, aims to become one of the largest and most advanced solar panel recycling facilities in the United States. The facility, expected to be operational by 2027, is designed to recycle over 2 million panels annually, with ambitious plans to expand capacity threefold by 2030.

At the heart of OnePlanet’s approach is an automated technology capable of safely dismantling solar panels to reclaim valuable materials like silicon, aluminum, copper, and silver. These recovered resources will then be reintroduced into the manufacturing supply chain, significantly reducing dependence on imported raw materials and reinforcing the circular economy principles within the renewable energy sector.

The company’s CEO, André Pujadas, whose experience includes senior leadership at the steel manufacturing giant Nucor, underscores the importance of integrating recycling deeply into the fabric of renewable energy. As he explains, “The River City Project is purpose-built infrastructure for a new era of clean energy maturity. Solar as an industry is now at an inflection point in its lifecycle, where we can’t simply install megawatts — we must also build the industrial capacity to recover and reintegrate the very materials that enable it. This facility will be a cornerstone of that effort.”

Strategic Location & Economic Impact

OnePlanet strategically chose Green Cove Springs due to its proximity to numerous solar installations throughout the southeastern United States and its convenient access to multimodal transport options, including rail, barge, and trucking routes. This logistical advantage is crucial, enabling efficient collection and redistribution of recycled materials, which will help minimize transportation costs and environmental impacts.

The economic benefits to the region are substantial. The River City Project, valued at approximately $90 million in total investment, will create skilled green jobs and foster economic development in Northeast Florida. Moreover, it positions Florida as a leading player in the emerging solar recycling market, complementing its already robust solar generation industry.

The $14.5 million federal investment tax credit was awarded to OnePlanet under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Energy Project Credit (Section 48C), originally established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and then renewed and expanded under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This incentive reflected the Biden administration’s broader policy goals of strengthening domestic clean energy supply chains, reducing environmental impact, and boosting the US economy through sustainable industrial innovation.

Similarly, another solar panel recycling company, SOLARCYCLE, was also recently the recipient of a funding boost in the form of tax credits under the Advanced Energy Project Credits (48C) program. The company announced last November that its new solar panel recycling facility in Georgia would also initially have the capacity to recycle 2 million solar panels annually, and to then scale up to 10 million panels per year. That facility is expected to be up and running in mid-2025.

Setting A New Standard In Cleantech Sustainability

OnePlanet’s ambitious plans extend beyond this initial facility. With a vision to establish a national network of recycling centers, the company is addressing a systemic gap in solar energy infrastructure. This network could effectively manage the growing volume of solar waste, providing a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges.

Industry experts believe this proactive approach is crucial to sustaining the long-term growth of solar power. “As the industry matures, recycling isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential,” explains Pujadas. “We’re demonstrating that it’s possible to scale recycling operations effectively and economically, ultimately making solar even more sustainable.”

Industry Impact Amid Tariffs & Future Outlook

The establishment of comprehensive recycling infrastructure comes at a crucial time, especially as recent US tariffs on imported solar panels and critical materials have disrupted supply chains and increased manufacturing costs. These tariffs have underscored the urgent need to create robust domestic recycling capabilities to reduce dependence on imports, stabilize the availability of critical materials, and control rising costs within the industry.

Establishing that infrastructure will likely influence industry standards, potentially shaping policy and operational best practices for solar manufacturers and installers. By addressing end-of-life panel management head-on, OnePlanet not only mitigates environmental risks but also opens opportunities for innovation in material science and sustainability practices within the solar industry.

This initiative is timely, considering recent expansions in solar power generation capacity across the US and globally. The increasing volume of solar panel retirements expected in the coming decades underscores the urgency of scalable recycling solutions. Through its River City Project, OnePlanet is taking a decisive step forward, setting a clear precedent for the future of renewable energy sustainability.