Redux, a Singapore-based e-waste recycling company, has unveiled an advanced automated solar panel recycling facility to address the anticipated rise in photovoltaic (PV) waste over the next decade. The facility, part of Project SolaREV, aims to manage the decommissioning of solar panels efficiently as Singapore’s solar projects mature. Redux estimates that the number of solar panels to be decommissioned annually will increase from 138,522 to 143,000 over the next two years.
Solar panels globally experience an efficiency reduction of up to 80% after 25 years. However, in Singapore, due to limited maintenance services, panels often degrade by the 7-year mark, leading to early replacement and increased e-waste. Jeff Seah, Founder and Business Development Director of Redux, stated, “This is a fledgling industry for Singapore, with gaps in services to ensure truly sustainable solar panel maintenance and management.”
Project SolaREV, a collaboration between Redux, EtaVolt, and Vector Green, is designed to recover, recycle, and reuse up to 96% of each solar panel. The facility can process 18 panels per hour, or 36,000 annually, which is approximately 27% of Singapore’s current PV waste. The project integrates advanced automation with a partnership system to oversee end-to-end management of PV waste.
Seah added, “Project SolaREV is an industry-first to merge advanced automation with an integrated partnership and reporting system.” The initiative aims to set a benchmark for PV waste management across ASEAN, with a focus on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
