Texas Plant to Recover Silver, Other Materials from Old Solar Panels

We Recycle Solar (WRS) announced plans for the first U.S. facility to recover critical materials from retired solar panels. The commercial-scale plant in Texas aims to process end-of-life panels, producing clean materials for resale.

The facility is scheduled to launch in Q3 2027. WRS expects to recover up to 96% of silver, copper, silicon, aluminum, and glass from these panels. All processing will occur domestically, with no offshore steps.

The plant will sit on a 10-acre campus outside Dallas. WRS plans to invest an estimated $100 million over the next four years. This investment will fund four additional locations across the United States.

Silver is essential for solar energy, defense systems, and the power grid. Industrial demand for silver has outpaced global supply for six consecutive years. China, which controls 60-70% of global refined silver supply, introduced new export licensing rules in January.

The U.S. solar industry is the fastest-growing electricity source, creating a large source of untapped materials. By 2050, the U.S. is projected to hold over $80 billion in recyclable materials from old solar panels. Currently, about 90% of these panels go to landfills or offshore processing centers.