The western state of Jalisco will soon boast Mexico’s very first solar panel recycling plant, an installation with the capacity to recover up to 95% of the materials from equipment that reaches the end of its useful life.

The project evolved in response to the growth of photovoltaic generation in Jalisco, which has approximately 1.6 million installed solar panels, equivalent to about 50,000 tonnes of equipment. 

Rafiqui — a non-profit civil organization dedicated to recycling and repurposing — is building the plant in Ciudad Guzmán, about 125 kilometers south of the state capital, Guadalajara. 

In its initial phase, the recycling plant is expected to process up to 1,000 tonnes of “retired” solar panels annually, recovering core materials like silicon, aluminum and silver to be used in other production chains.

Rafiqui director Ximena Cantú said her company’s model “goes beyond recycling because we believe in the circular economy.” 

Before sending any materials to the recycling plant, the decommissioned equipment will be evaluated to determine if it is still functional. Those that remain in suitable condition may be reused or donated to communities and non-profit organizations.

Manuel Gómez-Herrera Lasso, executive director of the Mexican Photovoltaic Industry Association, praised Jalisco as a pioneer in the adoption of solar energy. The first photovoltaic system interconnected to the national energy grid was installed in Jalisco in 2007.

The growth of the technology, however, presents a challenge for managing the waste generated by the replaced equipment. 

The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that 30,000 tonnes of solar panels in Mexico will be retired due to premature failure by 2030, while at the same time 6,500 tonnes will reach the end of their life cycle naturally.

As part of the strategy to address this, Rafiqui has established a collection center in a southern Guadalajara neighborhood to receive small volumes. It has also developed a collection scheme for larger quantities in different regions of the country.

Additionally, Rafiqui is holding discussions with municipalities and industrial associations to expand the alternatives for collecting solar panels in Jalisco.

With reports from Mexico Industry, Jalisco TV and El Financiero