Singapore Launches High-Tech Solar Panel Recycling Facility

• Singapore opens an automated PV recycling plant capable of recovering up to 96% of materials from end-of-life panels.

Singapore has taken a major step toward addressing the growing challenge of solar panel waste by unveiling one of Asia’s most advanced automated PV recycling facilities. The new plant, operated by Redux, can recover up to 96% of valuable materials from end-of-life modules — including glass, aluminum, silicon and precious metals.

With the country’s first major wave of rooftop solar installations approaching the end of their lifecycle, authorities expect a steep increase in discarded PV equipment over the next decade. Traditional recycling methods often struggle to efficiently separate tightly laminated solar components, leading to significant material loss. The Redux facility promises a more sustainable alternative by using automated mechanical and chemical processes to increase recovery yields.

For Singapore, the new plant also strengthens the nation’s circular-economy ambitions. Officials say high-quality recycling will reduce landfilling, cut environmental impacts and create a domestic supply of recovered materials that can be fed back into manufacturing chains.

Regional analysts note that Singapore’s move could set a precedent for Southeast Asia, where solar installations are expanding rapidly but recycling infrastructure remains limited. As countries scale up solar capacity, addressing end-of-life management is becoming a critical pillar of long-term sustainability.

The launch underscores how the solar sector is evolving beyond deployment alone — with lifecycle management now an essential part of the clean-energy transition.